The pond in the park is in dire need of improvements.

Slough Borough Council is applying for funds to rejuvenate Baylis Park after the success of the turnaround of Herschel Park the year before.

But to do this they’ll have to convince the Heritage Lottery Fund to hand over a £4.1m grant to do so, which would cover 80% of the total project cost.

Many other improvements

Firstly the bid has to go through an evaluation process but if that gets through then the council would consult with communities to decide how to restore the historic character of Baylis Park.

Areas like the walls and gates would be renovated as well as seeing some much needed improvement to the pond, which has fallen into disrepair and been an eye sore for the public for a long time.

Long process

The decision will be announced in June but it is a very long process, which is very complicated but the council hopes that they’d be ready for a second stage application in 2014.

Bruce Hicks, the Park’s Project Officer, spoke to Chris Craddock about the problems and complexities involved as well as those helping to give the bid it’s best possible chance.