AN ambitious £1.7 million lottery bid has been submitted by South Ribble Borough Council as plans to turn Worden Park into one of the top North West visitor attractions are pushed forward.

A year after asking the public what they wanted in their park, leisure bosses have submitted an ambitious bid to make wide-ranging improvements to the park.

Included in the plans is the proposal to unearth the original 'footprint' of Worden Hall, recreate the Victorian Paterre - a sunken garden which was designed to be viewed best from the Hall's balcony - and restore the Georgian walled kitchen garden as well as making improvements to the informal gardens.

Along with major improvements to car parks, footpaths and traffic management, it is hoped the scheme will attract thousands more visitors to the park each year.

But plans for a bike trail, equestrian arena, all-weather history trails and a trim trail have been shelved after being given the thumbs down by locals.

Carol Webster, horticultural officer for South Ribble Borough Council said: "If this bid is successful, it should ensure that Worden Park remains the jewel in South Ribble's crown.

"We have now submitted the bill to the Heritage Lottery fund and they will look at it with a view of giving us the money. We don't expect to know the result until later on this year."

Carol added: "Certain aspects of the original plans were taken out because they did not fit in with the heritage criteria and because they weren't popular with the public.

"We have now decided to concentrate on the heritage side of things and, if things go ahead, it should create many new aspects to Worden Hall which should make it an even more popular tourist attraction."

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