Fire damages Newmillerdam country park trail

Fire has destroyed part of a country park trail which was created by volunteers in Newmillerdam.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Jun 2016, 09:54 BST
Updated 6th Jun 2016, 14:53 BST

A blaze caused thousands of pounds worth of damage at the Lawns Dike Trail, a stretch of wooden boardwalk built by action group The Friends of Newmillerdam.

The £55,000 trail opened in the summer of 2013 and included seating, picnic tables and a viewing point to allow visitors to access a previously unused area of the park.

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The scheme was named Best New Build Environmental Project in the 2014 Wakefield Civic Society Design Awards.

The friends’ group said on its Facebook page yesterday: “The viewing platform was constructed of recycled hard plastic and has been reduced to a pile of ash by the intensity of the blaze, which has also severely damaged surrounding trees.”

The fire destroyed the viewing platform along with around 30 metres of boardwalk.

Wakefield Council said Newmillerdam was open as normal despite the fire.