Residents are being encouraged to have their say on plans to give a Dartford park a makeover.

Stone parish council is planning a £1.3 million project to revamp Stone Recreation Ground and deliver a package of improvements to the current offering.

The "rec" has seen an increase in use during lockdown as more people look to enjoy time spent outdoors.

As the community expands further the parish council feels now is the right time to upgrade the facilities to meet the demand.

It has submitted a planning application outlining its intention to accommodate new foot and cycle paths, a children's playground with sensory and accessible play equipment and a running track to complement the existing outdoor gym and basketball court.

A permanent café and picnic area, to double up as a pop-up market and events place has also been tabled, alongside new public toilets, improved lighting and CCTV.

The proposals aim to expand amenities on site to enable families to enjoy valuable outdoor activities.

The ecology of the site will also be improved with areas of wildflower meadows, significant additional tree planting and bee, bird, and butterfly friendly features.

Chairman of the Council, Keith Kelly said: “This is a fantastic scheme set to bring huge benefits to the whole parish and provide a high-quality green space for all to enjoy.

"There hasn’t been too much to be positive about recently, so we really hope this scheme will be received as great news by local residents, giving us all something to look forward to when restrictions start easing and we can come together as a community again.

"It will take a few years to execute the works but, along with the new Claire Tiltman Centre, will represent tremendous new resources for the parish.”

The scheme represents the first of the local infrastructure improvements contained in the Stone Parish Neighbourhood Plan, which is currently awaiting examination.

The council says there will be no increase in parish tax to pay for the scheme.

Instead the £1.3m cost of the scheme will be funded entirely through the Community Infrastructure Levy, a tax on local development schemes to enable investment in local infrastructure.

The scheme is expected to take around six months to progress through the planning and tendering process.

Work to instal a new playground as part of the first phase of works is expected to start in the summer.

The council is keen to get local children, families and schools involved in the design for the new playground and has launched an online consultation to obtain feedback on equipment and local needs.

To take part in the consultation visit www.stoneparishcouncil.com/consultation

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