Views wanted on Stover Country Park Heritage Lottery Fund application

Funding bid proposals to improve visitor facilities at Stover Country Park are to go on show this weekend (Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July).

Devon County Council is preparing to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund to help restore the park’s historic heritage and improve visitor facilities over the next five years.

Key elements of the project include restoring Stover Lake to a healthy water body by removing contaminated silt, restoring two Grade Two listed buildings, creating new footpaths and walking routes for visitors and the possible provision of a café.

The proposals for the funding bid will be on display at the Stover Visitor Centre from 10am – 4pm on Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July. Visitors will be able to view and comment on the application proposals.

There will also be an open meeting at the Stover Visitor Centre on Tuesday 3 July from 6.30pm – 8.30pm to learn more about the funding proposals and plans.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for Environmental Services, said: “Stover Country Park is an historic landscape and Site of Special Scientific Interest which is home to rare plants and a wide variety of wildlife. We want people to really enjoy the park when they come here, which is why we're proposing improvements to the historic infrastructure, habitats and facilities for visitors. We’re keen for people to view the proposals for our funding bid and provide us with their feedback, which will then be used as part of the application process.”

Councillor George Gribble, Devon County Councillor for Bovey Rural, said: “Stover offers a number of benefits for the environment and for people’s health and wellbeing, so it’s important that we make the most of what the country park has to offer – and improving the site’s listed buildings and walking routes would certainly do that. We would urge everyone to come along, find out about the proposals and take the opportunity to comment on them.”

Comment forms will be available for feedback at the display event and open meeting. Feedback and comments are welcome until Monday 16 July.