Major park revamp a step closer

Plans to regenerate a prominent park in Ashford have been approved.

Bosses at Ashford Borough Council (ABC) approved a scheme to transform Victoria Park at a council meeting on Wednesday.

But the scheme depends on the council securing £4.4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and authority bosses will have to wait until July to find out if their bid has been successful.

If funding is granted for the work, a new community hub could be construction as the council has applied to build an extension to the existing nursery building.

The adventure play area is also set to be transformed and a general clearance of the site would be carried out - including the removal of overgrown trees and shrubs.

The council also has plans to install a dirt track for teenagers, a sensory garden in the current site of the secret garden and a long grass area for a maze project.

ABC has already been awarded a £167,000 grant to help with its bid, but the authority will find out in the summer if its application for the full funding has been successful.

The money for the work comes from a £40 million Heritage Lottery Fund pot given to 13 parks and cemeteries across England and Wales.

Nesting boxes and log piles could be placed along the River Stour to enhance wildlife and a timber dipping platform and seating area could be erected along the river.

The council plans to install new CCTV cameras and add 17 car parking spaces, including two disabled bays to the site.

Victoria Park is getting a multi-million pound upgrade