COUNCILLORS have agreed to allocate £170,000 from Borough of Poole (BOP) funds as part of a £1.8m lottery bid for Upton Country Park.

The country park's Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid will bankroll new facilities at the attraction, and include repair work to historic features and infrastructure.

In order to secure the £1.8m lottery money, the HLF application called for additional 'partnership' funding - hence the council's commitment of £170,000.

The Friends of Upton Country park have already donated £125,000, with another £65,000 being raised through other fundraising methods.

BOP head of culture and community Kevin McErlane said: "We are very pleased with the news that the council members and the Friends of Upton Country Park have both confirmed their support for partnership funding towards our HLF application.

"The bid process is very competitive, but if we are successful, this investment would represent fantastic value for money for Poole and ensure that Upton Country Park receives the repairs and improvements that it needs to continue to be a beautiful open space that everyone enjoys."

There are two stages to the HLF bid process, with the first application due to be submitted by the end of August.

If this first stage spell success, the project moves into a year-long development stage which will include a number of activities to engage with park users.

If the overall bid is a success, park bosses want to reinstall historic pathways and recreate views and vistas that have been lost over time.

Earlier this week six acres of new parkland at Upton Country Park was opened as part of a separate £250,000 project.

The park, set in more than 130-acres, is owned and managed by BOP, since being handed over by former owners the Llewellin family in 1957.

After being unused for many years, the grounds reopened to the public in May 1976. Following restoration work, Upton House was first shown to the public in 1981.