A MASSIVE dome has been lifted into place at a historic Keighley park.

The 9.5-tonne steelwork and glass structure has been craned into position at Cliffe Castle.

Council officers and members of the park's conservation group were among those present as workmen carried out the operation today.

The installation of the dome marks a major milestone in the £4.5 million restoration of popular Cliffe Castle Park to its Victorian splendour.

Work also includes a new palm house and cafe terrace, refurbished pathways and planting.

And long-neglected attractions, such as a fountain and decorative streetlights, are being restored.

The dome house, a central feature of the project, will later be home to a newly-planted Norfolk Island Pine and will be part of a glasshouse including a new cafe and toilets for visitors to the park and museum, in Spring Gardens Lane.

Schoolchildren will be invited to bury a time capsule in June, ahead of the planting.

Bradford Council successfully bid for £3.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund Parks for People programme to support the restoration project.

Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group and Bradford museums were involved in the designs.

Work began last June and is due to be completed this summer.

Also present as the dome was installed was Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for environment, sport and culture.

She described it as a "significant landmark moment" in the scheme.

"It is a really exciting stage in the redevelopment of the park and it is great to see the building take shape," she said.

"The Cliffe Castle Park project will complement the recent restoration of the museum and will create a terrific asset for Keighley and the rest of Bradford district, which will delight visitors for many years to come."

Philip Rushworth, of the Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group, said members were delighted with the new dome, which has been placed into the site of the original palm house.

"We have spent a lot of time studying archive photographs of the original glasshouses," he added.

"We are convinced the new dome house will become recognised as a Keighley landmark."

The conservation group was formed in 2010 to support the council’s lottery bid.

It promotes and organises events and carries out work to improve the park.

The group has been involved in projects ranging from the provision of information boards and signage to the publication of walks leaflets and opening of a new play area.

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