Graves Park Lib Dem Councillors Celebrate Progress Towards Restoring Norton Nursery Site to Parkland

Liberal Democrat councillors in Graves Park are pleased to announce that Sheffield City Council’s Charity Sub-committee is set to explore ways to restore the Norton Nursery site within Graves Park back into usable parkland. This decision follows a recent declaration by the Charity Commission that the current use of former Norton Nursery as a council depot is unlawful. The Charity Sub-committee agreed to bring a report back to the committee in November looking at options for the site.

Councillor Steve Ayris, the Lib Dem representative for Graves Park, expressed his satisfaction with this development. He stated, “In the past, Sheffield City Council has treated the park with disrespect, undermined its charitable status, and disregarded the concerns of residents. The recent finding that the council, as the trustees of Graves Park, have been in breach of the law is a serious example of that. I am pleased that the committee will now be looking at options for returning the site back to parkland, as were the wishes of its benefactor, J G Graves, after years of neglect or sell-off plans by the council.”

The Charity Sub-committee's commitment to seeking alternatives for the Norton Nursery site marks a significant step towards restoring the integrity of Graves Park. The local community and park users can look forward to seeing positive changes that honour the park's intended purpose and respect its charitable status.