WORK is underway on the next phase of the development of a Hereford park which will lead to the creation of a new leisure and recreation facility.

The Aylestone Country Park will eventually contain sports pitches, a children's play area, a conservation area and a canal walk, and many footpaths, fences and benches are already in place.

The next task is to clean up a 315 metre section of the derelict Hereford and Gloucester canal on the north of the site, which is contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals.

Progress had been slow because of negotiations about managing the disposal of the waste, but the Environment Agency has now agreed to plans to use the treated silt as a foundation for a new entrance road off Aylestone Hill along the northern edge of the site.

Once the canal has been cleaned, a drainage system will be installed to carry rainwater from the park into the canal. The Hereford and Gloucester Canal Trust will then move in to complete the canal's restoration and towpath, which will eventually link up with the canal basin in the centre of Hereford.

The park was purchased by the council back in 2000 and Councillor Adrian Blackshaw, cabinet member for economic development and community services, is pleased with its progress so far.

"Local people have already begun to enjoy the park, but once the canal has been restored and the car park built, the park will attract more families from the wider community," he said.

"The Aylestone Park Association is helping us fundraise to keep the project going. We are extremely grateful to the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust and Community Payback who, between them, have undertaken all of the footpath construction and fencing work.

"Cleaning and opening up the canal is particularly exciting and will provide the catalyst for further developments at Holmer Industrial Park and the Edgar Street Grid in years to come."