PLANS to make major improvements to Ashton Park including a wildlife and fishing area to boost visitor numbers, are on the cards.

At a meeting of the Friends of the Park group, members and park officers from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council discussed ways to make the area, situated off Bolton Road, more appealing.

Repairs to the footpath, improved access and the creation of wildlife habitats have been earmarked as important developments to the park.

Councillor Chris Thyne, Marsh House ward, said the group had to look towards involving residents in short-term as well as long-term initiatives.

He said: "It's not so much a case of the long-term goals, first of all we have to point people in the direction of the park and let them know it's here. Sometimes we want to be able to say these grand things that we hope will happen.

"I think we need to concentrate on what we have the money for now, a

s well as offering volunteers easy-to-reach goals so they feel they have achieved something.

"We don't want to set up expectations because at the end of the day we are talking about it and it hasn't actually been done yet."

First and foremost, the group is looking to attract more members to form a proper committee.

Darren Bell, parks manager for the council, said: "We must not attempt to run before we can walk and it's important for the group to get some more members to become stronger.

"We also need to get volunteers involved in helping maintain the park, clearing rubbish or thinning trees. This will generate more interest in the park and let people know where and what it is."

Council development officer, Marion Roberts, was assigned to the park and three others in the area in January and will be able to concentrate on the area's development.

Mr Bell said: "It's the first time we've had individual officers dedicated to parks."