THE bid for £1million to rejuvenate Bailey Park, Abergavenny, has been put on hold - because the council has already applied for cash to renovate the Shire Hall in Monmouth.

Monmouthshire county council was not aware that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) would only accept one bid per authority each year.

So on the advice of the HLF the council has held back on their application for almost £1million, which they will match with £120,000.

But the chairman of the Bryn y Cwm area committee, councillor Andre Arkell, said it would give them extra time to polish the bid.

"The time before the new bid needs to be submitted will be spent beefing up that application, so that it is successful.

"These delays are frustrating, but we would prefer to hold back with the application for funding. Next year the HLF will prioritise parks so we'll be in a better position."

Recreation officer Tim Bradfield, who is co-ordinating the bid, said: "We need to be mindful of the heritage of the park. We're going for a balance between the heritage restoration and injecting vitality back into the park."

He said among the things planned for the park were a park ranger, skatepark provision, CCTV cameras and an adventure playground for older children.

Councillor Giles Howard said he was glad to see CCTV cameras had been included in the scheme and asked for dog walks and special dog litter bins.

Councillor Verona Nelmes said: "Community involvement is very important, it should not just be the great and the good, it should be youngsters as well involved at the planning stage.

"A perfect example of this is the garden at Llwynu Infants School which has been developed over months by the parents and children.

"The community owns it so it has not been touched or vandalised. If we involve disaffected youngsters in the first phase, the same will happen with Bailey Park."

Pictured: Chairman of Bryn y Cwm area committee Andre Arkell