A NEW campaign is under way with the aim of securing millions of pounds of lottery cash to revitalise a long-neglected park.

Residents and politicians are spearheading attempts to return Devonshire Park, in Highfield, Keighley, to its former glory.

They are hoping to attract Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) money to restore forgotten Victorian features and improve facilities for modern-day users.

Ideas include new play equipment, new sports groups, extra seating, walking and cycling routes, information boards, a children's bike track, new flowerbeds, CCTV cameras, footpath repairs, and the revival of the old ornamental lake.

The project aims to transform the park’s reputation as Cliffe Castle’s poor cousin following repeated reports of drug use and vandalism in recent years.

A child was pricked by a heroin user’s discarded needle earlier this year, the bowling pavilion suffered an arson attack in 2009, and in recent weeks bushes have been set alight.

News of the new funding campaign has been revealed by the three Bradford councillors whose ward includes the 126-year-old park, Khadim Hussain, Kaneez Akthar and Abid Hussain.

They stressed that plans to apply for lottery cash were in their early stages, but efforts to recruit interested residents were well underway.

The fledgling Friends of Devonshire Park are expected to hold their first official meeting next month.

The councillors said the involvement of a strong Friends group would be vital in developing proposals likely to attract likely to attract HLF money.

In recent years, similar partnerships between residents and Bradford Council have helped attract millions of pounds from the Heritage Lottery fund to improve nearby Cliffe Castle Park, Roberts Park in Saltaire, and Lister Park in Bradford.

Coun Khadim Hussain, last year’s Lord Mayor of Bradford, said he was confident that a well-thought–out application would attract funding.

He said: “We will ask people what they want to see, then put together a bid that reflects that. We want local people to retake ownership.”

Like Khadim Hussain, fellow Keighley Central ward councillor Kaneez Akhtar said she had fond childhood memories of playing in the park.

She said: “Lots of mums from my generation still bring their children here and they’re seven by the state of the Park. They’ve been galvanised into volunteering to help.”

Coun Abid Hussain added: “When we had the meeting involving local people they were delighted, and wanted to see change.”

Devonshire Park, opened in 1898, was the first of Keighley’s large municipal parks, developed on nine acres of land presented to the town by the Duke of Devonshire to mark Queen Victoria’s Jubilee.

Anyone interested in joining the Friends should contact Bradford Council officer Liz Horn by calling 01535 618008.

Local people are invited to join councillors and Friends volunteers tomorrow at 4pm in the park’s play area, for a fact-finding walkabout.