ONE of Abergavenny's oldest parks will undergo a facelift after receiving more than £120,000 from Monmouthshire County Council.

Cabinet membes agreed to the investment of £127,920 of section 106 balances held by the authority from the Larchfield House development to fund improvements to the recreational facilities of Bailey Park, including upgrading and making the area safe.

During the meeting in County Hall, cabinet member for Community Learning, Leisure and Culture,Liz Hacket Pain said, "We are looking for the recreation facilities in Bailey Park to be upgraded. They have been there quite a while and are in need of it." Councillor Hacket Pain told members, "Upgrades to the park will allow disabled children to use the facilities as well as other children. When it was being proposed there were several public consultations in Abergavenny with different groups."

Members suggested a new security fencing which could surround the park but councillor Hacket Pain said the idea would be too costly and unpractical at this moment in time.

"Security fencing around the whole park would be a rather longer operation for us at present. There is a fence surrounding it at the moment and security fencing would have to be much higher. We physically could not do it."

Among those to be consulted are organisations representing disabled children, Bowls Club, other Park Users and other, not yet specified community groups.

Councillor Phil Hobson, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Monmouthshire County Council, said that the investment is "overdue" and a welcome for boost for leisure and sporting facilities in Abergavenny.

During the meeting he asked cabinet members if local residents had been consulted as well as young people and groups in the town.

He said, "Local residents have not yet been consulted on any planned improvements form the windfall funding. It is clear that residents want to see the park secured with better fencing and a warden. The toilets facilities need to be upgraded for park users and this money will not be available for these projects. Any consultation must include local residents who have reported litter, vandalism and anti-social behaviour."

Councillor Hacket Pain said the sensitivity to residents around the park is always taken into consideration, "Any work we have done before, the residents have always been considered."

Councillor Hobson added, "Bailey Park was left out of earlier lottery funding bids, with the Shire Hall in Monmouth taking priority for funding. The council will have to redouble their efforts to restore Bailey Park to a high standard as being situated in the heart of the town."

During the meeting members also agreed to fund £46,400 for the Lion Street Development to fund new access and site works at the Abergavenny Youth and Community Centre and the acoustic fence at the skatepark. The report read, "The former Welsh School building in Old Hereford Road is now being used very successfully six-days-a-week as a Youth and Community Centre. Some works have been carried out to make it 'fit for purpose but there's a range of works required to bring it to a safe and usable standard." Monmouthshire County Council Leader, councillor Peter Fox welcomed the upgrade.

Local resident and regular park user Melissa Toombs said that she felt that the investment was great news but said that "It would be a shame if we spent all this money on improving leisure facilities for people, only for them to be in danger because the park is not secure at night. We really do need to have need fencing and ideally a warden to ensure the park is a safe and clean place for everyone."

Ms Toombs added, "The council should act to restore Bailey Park so it can be something of which all of us can be proud."

A meeting of the Friends of Bailey Park takes place today (September 11) to consider plans for the investment.