ACCESS to Burnley's "Jewel in the Crown" is set to be improved as part of a multi-million pound restor-ation.

But visitors who drive to Towneley Park will help pay the costs of the major facelift to the Riverside car park with new parking charges.

Work on the car park off Park Bridge Road, the latest development of a £3.2million makeover to restore the town's best-loved park to its former glory, starts on Monday.

It includes doubling capacity to nearly 400 car parking spaces and a new roundhouse refreshment and toilet kiosk.

Pedestrian access from the car park to Towneley Hall will also be improved, while there will be a new bridge to link it to a playground and parent and child, mobility and coach spaces.

But Burnley Council, which owns the park and hall, is planning to charge 50p a day for parking, or £6 a year for a season ticket, to help meet the cost.

The charges will run from 10am to 5pm so early-morning or teatime dog walkers or visitors will be exempt.

Executive member for leisure Coun Colette Bailey said: "These improvements are part of a £3.2million, five-year restoration project to conserve and improve Towneley Park so it can be enjoyed for this and future generations of users.

"Increasing the capacity, the variety of car parking spaces and the new kiosk will enhance people's visits to Towneley by making the practicalities of a visit to the park even easier."

Towneley Park's restoration project manager Annette Birch said: "The improvements to the Riverside car park require some selective tree felling to make room for the facilities, give more room for the trees to grow and also improve safety, by making the car parks less enclosed."

Sections of the car park will be closed as work progresses. The £3.2million programme is being funded by Burnley Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and other partners.

Historic features, such as the ornamental gardens, are also to be restored under the enhancement plans and other visitor facilities improved.

Upgrading the Riverside car park is part of an extensive traffic management plan, which includes improving the Barwise, golf course and hall car parks, increasing provision for cyclists and a shuttle bus running from Burnley town centre at peak periods.

The council is consulting over the car parking charges. Income raised will be used to employ an additional park ranger to ensure cars park correctly and don't block access. Surplus income will fund additional gardening staff to help improve maintenance standards.