A MULTI million bid to revamp a Workington beauty spot has received a major setback.

Allerdale council submitted an initial bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £150,000 to give Hall Park in Workington a makeover.

The authority was hopeful a stage two application could give the area a boost of up to £2.2 million, however the bid was unsuccessful.

A spokesman for Allerdale council said: "We were obviously disappointed not to have been successful in our bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to fund improvements to Hall Park in Workington. We were up against stiff competition, and at its December meeting the Heritage Lottery Fund’s national grants panel considered applications totalling £123 million and was in a position to award just £19 million. However, despite this the feedback we received from the HLF was very positive and we have been encouraged to reapply. We hope to resubmit a new application soon."

Allerdale council confirmed it has no plans to find alternative ways to fund the work. But councillor Mike Heaslip, executive member with responsibility for environmental quality, said some improvement projects will start regardless of the failed bid.

He said: "We do need external funding for this project, but there are a number of smaller projects we can do now."

A community interest company will be occupying the walled garden. It wants to use around 300 square metres of space to grow vegetables and install poly-tunnels, raised beds and a greenhouse. Vegetables and plants would be sold to the general public. The project would provide opportunities for people with a wide-range of needs and abilities with up to twenty volunteers and participants at any one time.

Charity West House, which supports people with learning disabilities, will use the adjacent office in the Curwen Centre as a base for its pottery enterprise. The project sees people with learning disabilities making pottery items which are then sold.

Coun Heaslip confirmed agreements for both projects were in the process of being finalised.

He added a path joining the area around Workington Hall with Mill Field would also be refurbished to create wheelchair and pram access between the two sections of the park.

The 106 hectares of landscaped park encircling Workington Hall is classed as a Grade Two listed historic monument. The hall is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade One listed building.

The lottery bid's aim was to gain funding for plans including path upgrades, car parking, signage, seating and woodland management.

But councillor Mark Jenkinson, who has been involved in the project, said Allerdale council should be more forward thinking and stop relying on external funding.

Coun Jenkinson said: "We've been promised action, I've raised this in full council a number of times."

He said the refurbishment of the park could have been managed in a similar way to that of Harrington Reservoir, where external funding was combined with work from local volunteers.

He added: "We can find £25 million down the back of the sofa for a stadium and money for the leisure centre, yet Workington Hall is in dire straits and Allerdale seem determined not to do anything. It's been our responsibility for 40 years and it's about time we stood up to it."