Wakefield Council to spend on park and former crown court

A £500,000 council grant looks set to be given to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to help meet the cost of a new gallery and restaurant.
The old county court building.The old county court building.
The old county court building.

Wakefield Council is considering providing the grant towards the £3.8m cost of the development which will also include a shop.

If it provides the one-off grant, the council looks likely to bring to an end the annual £118,000 it gives to the park.

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Coun Les Shaw, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: “The Yorkshire Sculpture Park has achieved regional, national and international recognition for its work over the last 30 years.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park.Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

“It has contributed a huge amount to the region’s economic growth, and has helped to promote our district as a great place to live, work, play and study.

“We have provided annual financial support for many years and have seen YSP grow to become a world leader in its field.

“But now is the time to consider if we should support them in a new way – by giving help which will enable them to sustain their own future.”

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Wakefield Council’s cabinet will consider the grant offer next week at a meeting where they will also consider the future of the former crown court building in the city.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park.Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The council bought the grade II-listed building two years ago following concerns about its crumbling state and councillors will be told the authority should now spend £1.5m to restore it to a state where it can be sold again.