A major scheme is under way to return an historic park to its past splendour – and council chiefs are calling for the public’s views on the multi-million pound project.

People across Bradford district are being invited to have their say on the re-development of Cliffe Castle Park in Skipton Road, which dates back more than 130 years.

Bradford Council aims to use £3.3 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Park for People Programme to restore its “significant” landscape features, improve the link between Cliffe Castle and its grounds and run a programme of education activities.

A public consultation starts this week.

Bradford Councillor Andrew Thornton, executive member for environment and sport, said: “Coupled with the restoration of the Cliffe Castle Museum building, the redevelopment of the park would be great for the people of Keighley.

“It would be a tremendous asset for them and everyone across the district.”

Following a successful stage one bid by Bradford Council, work is under way for the second stage of the lottery bid, which will be submitted in August.

The Council’s design team is working on draft proposals following survey work.

Plans detailing the project will be on display at the public consultation, which will be held in the café at Cliffe Castle, on Saturday between 1pm and 4pm.

Members of the design team will be on hand to explain the scheme and the public can drop-in, consider the proposals and give their views about the re-development..

Coun Thornton said: “This is the second public consultation by Bradford Council because we are determined that the public will have as much opportunity as possible to influence the project.

“We hope people will attend the public consultation to make their views count.”

The gardens were created by wealthy mill owner Henry Isaac Butterfield in the 1870s.

They are home to many attractive historical features including a series of cascading terraces, two ornamental fountains, a pond, rockeries, a grotto, an isolated tower and an ancient highway called Dark Lane.

Anyone who wants to find out more about the bid can log on to cliffecastlepark.org.uk