The park opened in 1887
Queens Park in Blackburn
A metal shipping container can be sited in a historic Blackburn park to extend a council drive to boost cycling, councillors have ruled.
It will be located on tarmac opposite the Old Bowling Hut at Queens Park in Queens Road for an initial five years.
The provision of the metal container near its disused bowling greens to accommodate bikes will now allow the community cycling scheme to go ahead in the Grade-II listed green space
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning committee on Thursday night unanimously approved permission for the 10-foot-long temporary structure.
It will allow the authority’s health and wellbeing department to extend a successful cycling project at the borough’s Witton Park to the new venue.
The shipping container would safely store adults’ and children’s bicycles for the purpose of teaching people to ride, providing ‘cycle back to fitness’ sessions and cycling club ‘pedal round the park’ group rides.
Planning manager Gavin Precott told the meeting: “The proposed development involves the siting of a shipping container for the storage of community bicycles.
“A green shipping container is proposed that would have a length of 3.1 metres, a width of 2.4m and a height of 2.6m.
“It would be temporary for an initial five years and be very well concealed.
“The proposed container would be used to store community bicycles that would be used as part of initiatives ran by the council to encourage exercise, inclusivity and wellbeing.
“The council’s development plan supports new community-led developments and associated works.
“The proposed development requires listed building consent as Queens Park is a Grade II listed public park.
“Queen’s Park is a large public park that is characterised by its organic, informal style.
“The park was opened in 1887 and was subsequently developed during the 20th century, including the introduction of the bowling greens.
“The intention was not merely to create an ornamental park, but to provide facilities for boating, swimming, skating, cricket, and other athletic activities.
“The communal value of the park is derived from its strong and enduring connection with the local community and its continued use for everyday recreational activities.
“The proposal would not be entirely out of context, as the park is a publicly used space and already contains later 20th century developments and service structures within its landscape
“The proposed container would be relatively small in scale compared to the overall size of the park.
“Heritage advisors have identified that the proposals would result in less than substantial harm to the significance of the listed park.
“They also note that the park serves as an important recreational space for the local community, and the provision of cycle storage would be required to facilitate beneficial community-led initiatives.
“It should also be noted that containers are relatively common features within historic parks.”
