The new Country Park on the eastern edge of South Elmsall has been created from the derelict land of the former colliery yard and spoil heap of Frickley Colliery which closed in 1993.  The majority of the site has been reclaimed to create a high quality country park utilizing over £7 million of grant funding from the Government's National Coalfields Programme.

The scheme has been implemented through a partnership of Wakefield Council, Yorkshire Forward and the Homes & Communities Agency.

The Country Park, which opens this summer, provides over 80 ha of leisure and recreation space open at all times to the public.  Extensive areas of grassland, heathland, tree planning and wetland areas will create significant habitats for nature conservation and biodiversity.

Several features on the site help to record the mining heritage of the area.  For example 'The Timeline' marks the location and depth of the Colliery Shaft Number 1 and identifies the main coal seams that were mined at Frickley.

Over 11.5 km (7 miles) of footpaths and cycleway have been constructed across and around the site, and disabled access is practicable on all but the steepest slopes.  Those visitors with mobility scooters will find that Radar keys open the kissing gates at specific entrances from Doncaster Road and Broad Lane.  There is also a car park at the Doncaster Road entrance.

Frickley Colliery Housing Site

New housing is proposed for the site of the former colliery offices and car park.  Just over 5ha of land is available the majority of which has been reclaimed as part of the overall reclamation scheme.  A development brief document is being prepared which will set out the standards required for new housing in this important location.  Up to 190 homes could be built with around 30% to be provided as 'affordable homes'.  The site will tender to the Wakefield Developer Framework in 2009, and it is hoped that the construction of new homes will start in 2010/11.

Laste updated 1 June 2009