MAJOR improvements to Otley's Wharfemeadows Park and Horsforth Hall Park are set to go ahead this year.

Both have been earmarked by Leeds City Council to receive part of its £3.7 million rennaisance of the district's public parks and green spaces.

Wharfemeadows Park will get a lion's share of the budget with £400,000 poured into landscaping, information signs, additional seating and a grass amphitheatre.

Hall Park will see improvements to flowerbeds and public facilities, such as the bandstand.

Future plans include tennis courts and a park warden.

Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said details of the work to take place in Otley would be discussed by the ward's three councillors towards the end of the month.

They are likely to be based around recommendations included in Otley Town Partnership's consultation paper 'A Vision for Otley's Riverside'.

He added plans were also likely to include a circular walk and cycle way taking in the pedestrian 'White' bridge at the far end of the park which would also tie in with the possible residential and office redevelopment of Garnett's riverside mill.

"At the formal end of the park, at Bridge Avenue, we're looking at improvements to the bowling green including new fencing.

"We shall be tidying up the caf area and at the bottom end of the park there will be replanting and general upgrading."

Coun Campbell said areas likely to be looked at would be the tennis courts and the skate park, which has recently lost its protective fencing and has suffered extensive graffiti damage to its shelter.

He added that the council was to be more 'robust' in its dealings with graffiti.

"We have ruled out a graffiti place set aside because people will assume its okay. It could work, but only with artistic graffiti. Most people seem to have a spray can and just do it."

David Read, of Friends of Horsforth Hall Park, said the investment was very welcome.

"The money is not as much as we were led to believe, but it is very welcome.

"We have quite a lot of projects that we would like to pursue in the park.

"We would like more lighting in certain areas and electrical power at the band stand and these are all things that cost a lot of money."

Mr Read said there was already a fair amount of horticultural work going on such as the laying of new flowerbeds.

And he added: "In the long term we hanker after the facilities that we used to have. We have no public tennis courts and would like to have them back, but in order to get those we would need park keepers.

"A lot of the vandalism has been reduced because of the park rangers. They come on a regular intervals and seem to have stopped a lot of the anti-social activity.

Coun Andrew Carter, leader of Leeds City Council, said the parks were a fantastic asset to Leeds and added that major investment in them was long overdue.

"There are many health and well-being benefits in having green and pleasant public spaces in our local communities. Parks and green spaces are places where people can relax and enjoy nature, they can keep fit and young people can learn about our environment.

"We also have a lot of valued support from the many volunteers who enjoy doing their bit for their local park, and their efforts will play a key role in the success of this programme."

Coun Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) said the £45,000 for Horsforth Hall Park would make a big difference.

"We're absolutely delighted. There have been a lot of areas that have been missed out over the years and this way everyone will benefit.

"One of the biggest things happening is that we're bringing back the Japanese Garden. It is a very well used park and people will really notice the difference."