Wath Country Park
Various authorities are trying to turn the remains of the biggest, dirtiest coal complex anywhere in Britain - Manvers Main - into a country park. The complex consisted of the colliery, tips, slurry lagoons, coal conveyors and a huge set of railway sidings including Wath Concentration Yard. These are all gone now and a lot of money has been spent turning the site into something quite different.
It's still not very pretty but there is a lake which was apparently formed merely by the scooping out of a great hole and letting it fill up. There are plenty of birds on the lake including swans but many of these have died supposedly from overeating bread. The Trans-Pennine Trail crosses through here, muddy even after a spell of dry weather. There have been attempts to improve the drainage (which is pretty appalling) but you could easily fall into the residual JCB tracks if you don't watch yourself. There has been much tree planting which may well prettify the place when the trees have grown into woods. I understand that the planting consists largely of elder and locust which can survive on the very poor soil.
In 2008 Sport England have given a grant towards the development of a boathouse, 250m and 500m canoe racing courses and training facilities at Manvers Lake.
The monument to the Town of Wath which is in the park has been well-vandalised as have any number of burnt out cars dumped there. Bikie boys were a persistent and annoying problem on Sundays we have been there.
In March 2007 I have seen plans for the site which are termed a 'Lakeside Village'. These include a pay and play 9 hole golf course, commercial units, Leisure in Rotherham facilities, medical facilities, hotel, creche, local shops and a substantial residential area covering the southern side of the site. There is also a clubhouse and golf diving range on the eastern part of the site. If all this goes ahead, and it looks as if it is going to there will no longer be a country park here. I wonder where I can move this page?
Apparently the golf driving range and clubhouse are due to be opened in June 2008.