A PROGRAMME of works to transform a popular facility in Lowestoft is gathering pace.A scheme to regenerate Kensington Gardens began last year, and this week Waveney District Council unveiled their winter work programme for the seafront park.

A PROGRAMME of works to transform a popular facility in Lowestoft is gathering pace.

A scheme to regenerate Kensington Gardens began last year, and this week Waveney District Council unveiled their winter work programme for the seafront park.

'Work has continued in the gardens throughout the winter period to improve the overall feel and provide an attractive and welcoming facility,' a council spokesman said.

'Specifically, Waveney Norse's Parks Team has cleared several stale and over-mature shrub beds in preparation for new planting, which will take place shortly. This will enhance the boating lake area and start the process of introducing greater colour and variety to the gardens.'

With the aim of improving the gardens once more and returning the facility back to its former glory, the works will continue ahead of the summer season.

And new walkways, bins, benches, repaired paths and buildings will be unveiled in forthcoming weeks.

'The top path adjacent the seafront, which had been a fairly stark and weedy area, has been topped up with soil and will be over seeded to provide a green walkway,' the council spokesman said. The work to the boundary with St. Mary's Primary School has continued and we have now taken delivery of new fencing, which we hope to erect before the summer season, meaning this end of the gardens will feel much more part of the park.

'We have been able to purchase new litter bins and recycling bins for the gardens and it is hoped they will be in position before the start of the season. In addition, several new memorial benches have been purchased and positioned in the gardens,' the spokesman added.

As part of the works, one of the disused paths within the rockery has been removed and the beds have been extended to enhance this area.

'It is a long-term goal of this programme to also repair the paths in this area,' the spokesman said. The Parks Team is very positive about the gardens improving again this year and acknowledge the commitment of the various groups and users to this end.

'Repairs to both the caf� and the boating pavilion have also been carried out by Waveney District Council's partners NPS, which will again improve the overall look.'