A NEW lake is part of ambitious plans to renovate Greenhead Park.

It will be a return to days of old, when there were several lakes in the Huddersfield park.

Kirklees Council officials are poised to submit a bid for lottery cash within the next few weeks.

A £2.3m scheme will include a new visitor centre in the park's conservatory and refurbishment of the pavilion cafe.

But an ice rink - put forward in initial proposals - has been ruled out.

John Fletcher, of Kirklees Council's Culture and Leisure Services, said: "We are applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund, as it is heritage we are concerned with.

"We want to bring back features that are in decay or obsolete - and prepare the park for another 100 years."

Although ice skating was popular on the frozen lakes many years ago, it is one original feature that is not being brought back.

When public opinion was canvassed about how the park should be improved, many people suggested an ice rink.

Mr Fletcher said: "We're glad it sparked such a debate and made the park a real talking point.

"But it was never top of our list of improvements.

"We don't get winters like we used to and there are also safety issues," he added.

Mr Fletcher said there was a possibility of creating a safe, possibly man-made, ice rink in Huddersfield.

Improvements will be made to the park's pathways, fountains and monuments.

Tennis courts are also due for refurbishment.

Mr Fletcher said: "We are putting more money into maintenance, the capital programme and increasing staff.

"We want to improve facilities such as the tennis courts and the quality of the surfaces and probably offer more sports than just tennis and basketball.

"The scheme may also involve lighting and CCTV."

The poor condition of the park's tennis courts recently prompted complaints from local people inspired to play by TV coverage of Wimbledon.

In response, the council patched up the court surfaces as a `quick fix' until the major refurbishment begins.

Tennis fan Chris James, 33, a mechanical engineer from Lower- houses, said playing was much easier after the improvements.

He added: "The courts are a lot better than they were. But I'd love to see a proper job done."

* Efforts to build a park began in 1869 after land was threatened by housing plans.

* Eventually it opened as a public park in 1893.

* Its conservatory opened in 1930 but costly repair bills eventually forced closure.

* The go-ahead for Sunday bowls, tennis and putting came only in 1952.

* The park was listed by English Heritage in 2001 on the register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest.