By Graham Brown

AN INVESTMENT of £400,000 is in the pipeline for parks and cemeteries across Angus.

But the money is only a fraction of what council chiefs say is needed to ensure the county’s graveyards and play areas make the grade.

Angus Council has a set-aside fund for general renewals and repairs, but parks and cemeteries have not been able to tap into it readily in past years, impacting on their condition.

In an attempt to redress the situation, a £400,000 allocation was made in this year’s council budget to replace the dormant equipment renewal fund with a specific parks and cemeteries renewal and repair fund.

“The aim of the investment is to bridge the funding gap which is estimated currently at some £2.7 million to bring Angus Council’s parks and cemeteries up to standard,” said neighbourhood services director Ron Ashton in a report which is going before councillors today.

“The fund will maintain a minimum balance of £15,000. The fund once established will be monitored and evaluated regularly and reported upon to committee along with all similar Angus Council funds.”

This year’s spend will comprise £295,000 on specific projects, from which £70,000 is to be invested at Arbroath’s Victoria Park play area.

“Items of play equipment have been removed over recent years as a result of corrosion and only one set of swings remains,” the report said.

“The proposals are to relocate a play area to the east of King’s Drive adjacent to the public toilets and access to the cliff footpath.”

Other locations set for investment are Brechin public park (£50,000) and Kirrie Den, where £40,000 is to upgrade paths and repair erosion.

Cemetery improvements include wall repairs at Lunan and Fowlis burial grounds, totalling £36,000.

There will also be a £15,000 resurfacing scheme at Arbroath’s eastern cemetery.