Maldon's Promenade Park may soon see a number of new additions - including a footpath and more lighting - after the proposals were recommended for approval by councillors.

The strategy and resources committee at Maldon District Council came to the decision last night (Thursday, 3 February), after considering a report on health and safety risks posed by the park in its current state.

The proposals - which have been estimated to cost £128,000 - include adding a new footpath and lighting on the main access road into the Prom, resurfacing the entrance road and the skatepark and installing a dual pumping station at the marine lake.

The new dedicated footpath along the main access road into the Prom would have low-energy bollard lighting installed down its length, with the scheme costing £25,000.

Officers hope this would provide "safer pedestrian access" into the park so that users do not have to walk down the access road, and provide "lighting for when the light conditions are poor".

Councillor Penny Channer, the newly-elected leader of the council, said "£25k sounds pretty good to me", adding: "Do we feel that's accurate costing there?"

Richard Holmes, director of service delivery and head of paid service, said: "I'm fairly confident what they've asked for will be sufficient."

The most costly project, resurfacing the skatepark for £45,000, includes fencing and replacement of ramps and would prevent "potential closure in the near future under health and safety".

The plans also include replacing the current timber bollards along the main Prom entrance with new plastic lighting bollards to "provide vehicles and pedestrians with adequate lighting for safer travel along the roadway", costing £15,500.

There is currently no lighting along the Prom entrance roadway.

The dual pumping station at the marine lake, costing £10,500, has been proposed to manage the level of the lake during winter and when it rains as there is no existing overflow or pumping system.

Resurfacing the Prom entrance road has also been proposed as, the report says, failure to do so "could result in incidents and accidents - including slips, trips and falls to the public - and also other health and safety concerns with vehicle access or usage".

The project is estimated to cost £32,000.

The renovation scheme is one of several capital projects put forward by officers as part of the council's capital strategy prior to the approval of its 2022/23 budget and updated medium-term financial strategy, which will be presented to full council on 24 February.

Officers said: "As part of the budget strategy, the broad principles adopted in relation to capital are that expenditure will be financed from existing useable capital resources and not directly from revenue."

At the beginning of the 2021/22 financial year, the council had capital reserves of £2m.

£500,000 has been allocated to support the 2021/22 capital programme, which leaves £1.5m to support future programmes for 2022/23 and beyond.

Chris Leslie, director of resources, said: "There is no borrowing requirement as expenditure will be funded from capital receipts reserve or government grants."

If approved by full council, the works to the Prom would be completed by November.

The committee voted to recommend the capital strategy for approval - including the Prom projects - and the final decision will be made at the next full council meeting on 24 February.

Councillors also approved a new scheme to replace the sale of memorial benches in the district's parks, which you can read about here.