A CAFE and heritage centre at the heart of changes to Weymouth’s Radipole Park and Gardens has won planning approval.

If the centre is still able to go ahead it will create two full-time and six part-time jobs and will open daily from 10am to 5pm, with seating for 28 people.

Other improvements planned for the area include a sensory garden, new play areas, skate ramps, open-air table tennis tables and a water play area. The existing car park will increase from 35 to 46 car spaces under the proposals with three new disability parking spots.

The timber-clad single storey building was proposed by Weymouth Town Council. It is described as being ‘flood resistant,’ by having a raised the floor level.

The café building will also include toilets, which park users have campaigned for. The park is currently without public toilets, other than those in the tennis pavilion which are only for club members.

The café and heritage centre is seen as the key element of a Stage II application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the conservation and enhancement of Radipole Park and Gardens as a whole. A decision on that is expected this June.

Other elements include improving the paths; replacing the dated play equipment with a new play area incorporating a water feature; improving the sports facilities and adding a sensory garden. The application to the Heritage Lottery Fund has been submitted by Weymouth Town Council together with The Friends of Radipole Park and Gardens.

Weymouth Civic Society chair Pauline Crump, supporting the application, said: “This is an excellent project and a attractive scheme, designed to enhance the whole of the park and gardens. It will broaden the range of available activities, while the café and toilets will provide much needed public amenities in an area without such facilities.

“The project, developed through extensive voluntary involvement, reflects the enthusiasm of those participating and is a laudable example of community activity.”

The café will also be used as a community heritage centre, with information about the history of the park, act as a hub for the Friends group and volunteers and a centre for education. It will also be the central point for a range of activities including a heritage trail, scavenger hunt, orienteering course, talks and walks programme, and interactive interpretation aimed at children.

The proposed new sensory garden, which is being developed by staff and students at Kingston Maurward College, will be located next to the café.

The building is being designed to keep energy use to a minimum with high levels of insulation and with an air source heat pump to provide hot air to the entrance door heater and/or hot water heating. The space heating will be via infra- red heaters with the electricity from a green energy supplier.

Weymouth Town Council intend to franchise the café with the rental income ‘ring fenced’ to be used to maintain the building, park and gardens.