Expansion plans at Planters of Bretby given go-ahead
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Planters at Bretby Garden Centre near Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, has promised exciting times ahead after expansion plans were given the green light.
South Derbyshire District Council has approved proposals to extend the car park at the garden centre.
This follows months of work to boost the appeal of the centre to younger families, a project deemed successful by the centre manager Mark Shaw.
He said: "In the last 12 to 18 months we have had a big effort to get people to bring all the family to the centre.
"We've had a beach and an ice rink and we are starting to see more younger families coming in. Before, people may have come into buy a plant, pot or compost and then go but now families are staying for the morning or afternoon."
The ice rink, which was installed for the first time in mid-Novmber, proved so popular that special measures had to be put in place to allow customers to park.
Mark felt this proved the need to expand the car park.
He added: "There has been the occasional weekend where the car park just wasn't coping and we have had to open the overflow behind the centre.
"But that is a nice problem to have, in a way, to see so many people coming."
The car park will provide 48 additional spaces, taking the total capacity up to 179.
Safety for customers will also be improved with a 'clearly defined' walkway being created for customers walking to and from the centre. Work is also set for the centre itself with expansion plans and refits in the pipeline.
The aquatic department is set to be revamped and will result in the appointment of new members of staff.
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