Eco-park plans secures funding boost
Plans to establish a showcase eco-park at Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea, Essex, have received a boost after the government committed £1.6m towards the project.
Basildon District Council (BDC) is leading the project, which has already secured £5.3m to fund improvements to the park, as well as transforming a former explosives factory into a new heritage centre powered by renewable energy. New trails will be created using the latest investment, as well as an education and training centre for sustainable land use. A digital database, listing all plant and animal species found in Essex, will also be established.
Kevin Blake, BDC's cabinet member for leisure and open spaces, said: "This extra funding is a major boost for our plans to turn the park into a beacon for environmental education, design and technology. "It will allow us to create new walks for local people and offer education and training resources to hep the wider community plan for a greener and more sustainable future."