Egerton Park in line for £1.5m makeover

But it will be dependent on Rother cabinet on Monday finding match-funding by diverting cash from the park maintenance kitty and dependent on Heritage Lottery Fund approval.

Director of services Tony Leonard says the century-old Egerton Park is a well-used amenity but is in need of a major upgrade.

He will tell councillors: "Within the Heritage Lottery Funding grant schemes there is a Public Parks Initiative.

"The applications for this award close in 2007 and officers have been in correspondence with the Heritage Lottery who have indicated that Rother is eligible to apply for this grant funding."

Mr Leonard stresses: "This does not however imply funding will be secured."

He says: "English Heritage have also been consulted and we are advised that whilst Egerton Park, Bexhill, does not merit listing as an historic park, they feel it has considerable local heritage significance and have offered informal support in an advisory capacity and have encouraged the council to submit a project application to the Heritage Lottery Fund as soon as possible."

Egerton Park was laid out by London entrepreneur John Webb in 1888 (initially in order to drain the surrounding land). Over a period of time this park became one of the town's main centres for entertainment, relaxation and recreation.

Mr Leonard says: "The estimated total project costs are likely to be in the region of 1.5m with an application for 70% maximum grant.

"It is proposed to seek other grant funding along with a contribution from Rother District Council being met from the Park Revenue Budget.

"If members are minded to support this funding application it is proposed to commit revenue funds from the grounds maintenance budget by redirecting the day-to-day responsive maintenance and landscaping budgets for this park and other public spaces in the district during this period.

"Through careful project planning and as part of the District's Park Management Plan upon completion of the project these revenue funds would be redirected back into the other parks and open spaces in upgrading these other sites.

"Furthermore securing this crucial inward investment would ensure that substantial and important work is carried out in Egerton Park; in turn this should reduce the maintenance requirements of the park over forthcoming years, enabling us to focus attention on other parks and green space developments across the district, and identify additional external funding opportunities.

"Egerton Park is a very well used facility for the District but is in need of a substantial upgrade.

"This proposal is seeking to apply for external funding with match-funding met from redirection of current revenue maintenance resources."

In a risk assessment statement Mr Leonard says: "If the council is unsuccessful in taking advantage of the HLF Public Parks Initiative before its 2007 deadline the council will have to continue to find funds, just to maintain the park in its current state of adequacy."