AN ambitious lottery bid has been sent off for almost half a million pounds to restore a vandal-plagued Hyndburn park.

The £495,000 bid called Rhyddings Park - Putting the Heart Back into the Park has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund by Hyndburn Council.

The vision for the future has been drawn up by officers working hand in hand with Groundwork East Lancashire and the local community.

Key proposals are refurbishing the coach house as a community base suitable for a children's playgroup and replacing the blaze-hit bowls pavilion in a less isolated spot.

There are also plans to refurbish the tennis courts with facilities for basketball and a kickabout area for football. Other plans include developing a children's playground and adventure play facilities for teenagers

There would also be an arena for outdoor theatre and events, remodelling pets corner, restoring paths and heritage features, landscaping and a duck pond.

A decision from the lottery fund on the award of grants for the current round of bids is expected in March next year.

If Rhyddings Park is successful the improvements would take shape between April next year and July 1999.

The total cost of the project is estimated at £495,360, of which the council and its partners must contribute a quarter, £123,840.

Months of work have gone into drawing up the bid through consultation with the youth and community service, liaison with police, a public meeting and feedback from questionnaires.

The proposals have the backing of The Friends of Rhyddings Park, a volunteer group of local people who want to represent their community and have become involved in the park's management.

Details of the council's bid will be outlined tomorrow night to councillors on the leisure services committee.

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