Parks and Open Spaces

South Ribble offers a range of green space that is accessible to the public including parks, nature reserves and woodland. This page provides information about the range of open space available in the borough, who is responsible for its management and maintenance and what events are planned.

Green spaces are areas designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a natural environment. The council is responsible for the upkeep and improvement of parks and open spaces, including facilities for outdoor sports, children's playgrounds and allotments. 

The day to day management and maintenance of the borough's parks and open spaces is carried out by the Grounds Maintenance and Community Cleansing Teams while the long term management and improvement of the borough's green space is overseen by the Parks Development Team.  All these teams fall under the council's Street Scene Services Department. 

The borough council also provides a Ranger Service based within Street Scene Services that assists with the management of the borough's green space by working on environmental improvement projects with volunteer members of the parks 'Friends' groups, supervising activities on the Parks Events Program and Education Program and enforcing the borough's bye-laws that promote responsible and considerate use of the open spaces and their facilities.  The bye-laws for South Ribble's parks and open spaces can be viewed by opening the attachment at the bottom of this page. 

The links on the right hand side provide further information on each of the types of green space available in South Ribble and where they can be found. 

New Dog Control Orders

South Ribble Borough Council has recently adopted new Dog Control Orders under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 which come into effect on September 21^st 2009.  This legislation replaces a number of bye-laws which previously covered these offences and allows for offences to be discharged by payment of a fixed penalty notice of £75.  Under the new legislation, the following four offences have been adopted:

• failing to remove dog faeces;

• failing to keep a dog on a lead in certain areas (including roads and any associated grass verges and footways, car parks and Longton Brickcroft Nature Reserve);

• not putting, and keeping, a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer (to prevent the dog causing a nuisance or annoyance to another person or the disturbance / worrying of animals or birds);

• permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded (South Ribble's fenced children's play areas);
  

For further information, each of the four orders can be viewed by visiting the Dog Control Orders page. 

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Who looks after South Ribble's parks and open spaces?

Grounds Maintenance Team - Grass cutting, hedge and shrub pruning, drainage, repairs of general damage

Tel:  01772 625625
Email: parks@southribble.gov.uk

Community Cleansing Team - Bin emptying, litter, graffiti and fly tipping removal

Tel:  01772 625625
Email: info@southribble.gov.uk

Ranger Service - Enforcing bye-laws, working with 'Friends' groups and organizing events and educational activities

Tel:  01772 422316
Email: info@southribble.gov.uk

Canine Welfare Service - Enforcing bye-laws, stray dogs

Tel:  01772 625591
Email: info@southribble.gov.uk

Parks Development Team - Planning and management of park improvement projects and maintaining equipped playgrounds

Tel:  01772 625625
Email: parks@southribble.gov.uk

Out of hours emergency - An emergency outside office hours which requires action from the council immediately

Tel:  01772 625499

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Donated Benches

The borough council operates a scheme allowing members of the public to donate a park bench complete with memorial plaque to a park or open space within South Ribble.  Donation of benches will be considered for any green space owned by the borough council with each request being assessed on a case by case basis.  Please note that all benches within Worden Park, Leyland are currently being reviewed and therefore we are not accepting any further donated benches at this site for the time being. 

For further information regarding prices, bench styles and possible locations, please contact the Parks Development Team by the contact details above. 

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Car Parking in Worden Park

In recent years the impact of traffic within the park has increased and many visitors have told us that this is one of the main issues that negatively impacts on their enjoyment of Worden.  Following parking restrictions being introduced to the residential streets around the park, the use of the main car park by non park users has begun to prevent genuine visitors from accessing the park. 

In order to reduce the impact of traffic on the park and ensure parking space is available for visitors, the following parking restrictions came into force on Monday 19^th May 2008:

• Parking on the Main Car Park remains free but will be restricted to 3 hours maximum with no return within 3 hours, 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday except school and bank holidays (except disabled badge holders and permit holders).  This also includes the overflow parking area when this is formally open. 
  
• Parking on the Hall Car Park is restricted to disabled badge holders and permit holders only, Monday - Sunday, 9am - 5pm. 
  
• Parking in any area of the park other than the two designated car parks is prohibited at all times except for loading. 

Non-compliance will result in a penalty charge being issued. 

Visitors attending special events at the park when restrictions are in force will be provided with a temporary permit by the Borough Council through the event organisers.  Visitors collecting items from the Arts Centre and Craft Units can collect a temporary permit from the Coffee Shop during opening hours. 

For further information please call South Ribble Borough Council on 01772 625625