AN action group will be set up to try to improve Farnworth Park and avoid anti-social behaviour.

Residents have been urged to join the group, which would look to gain constitutional status in order to apply for funding and add new features to the park.

The area has suffered from continuous issues, including bin fires, drug use, damage to benches and the destruction of part of a memorial.

Farnworth councillor Jean Gillies said: “I want to get an action group together for people to get involved in the park, have their say and give their vision.

“Every generation should get involved in this. In the past, we have had young people involved in projects like this, where there had been some damage, and the damage has subsided.”

She went on to say that she would work on the group as a resident in the area, outside of her role as a councillor, in order to help create a constitution for the group.

Some improvements put forward include new lighting and improved footpaths and benches.

Farnworth Cllr Paul Sanders also put his support behind a group, saying Farnworth Park should become a “people’s park” and citing the recent suffragette celebrations as as example of how important the area could be to the community.

He said: “The park is such an important part of our town and it has been forgotten about. It hasn’t been a focus in many years but events like the suffragette celebration have helped.

“Starting up a group is something that can only be seen as a good thing. We need people from all political persuasions to come forward and be a part of this.

“It’s about us all owning the park again, it’s the people’s park.”

Carole Crawley, from Cawdor Avenue, added: “I’m really pleased that we are having an action group and I think we need to involve all ages.

“We need to see if people want to use it in their own ways. Lots of things can be done in the park but people need to get involved.”

To get involved in the group, or to offer support, get in contact with Cllr Gillies on: jeangillies1961@gmail.com.