PETERSFIELD Town Council has given the green light to two major projects in the town.

And now almost £700,000-worth of funding has been approved by councillors, plans to renovate the Heath Pond and replace an extension on the Festival Hall building can go ahead.

The desire to make environmental improvements to the Heath Pond, a popular attraction for residents and visitors, have been on the council’s agenda for more than 20 years.

Some of the proceeds from the sale of land at Penns Field for housing – £400,000 – coupled with developers’ contributions from new housing on The Causeway when it gets under way, has allowed a total budget of around £600,000 to be formed for the work needed on the pond.

The proposals are due to be put out to public consultation later this summer or in early autumn, but a working party has already helped to draw up work plans.

These include more planting around the margins of the pond and the digging out of silt from the middle of the pond to help bolster banks where there is erosion.

In some places where railway sleepers have been placed to help protect the pond’s banks in the past, the movement of the water has started to erode the banks behind the sleepers.

The creation of some new islands towards the north east corner of the pond is being considered to help break up wave action.

The boardwalk which runs close to Sussex Road may also be replaced, with the new path moved further out into the pond, with passing places on it for wheelchairs and push chairs.

A?fish nursery could also be created by some of the works, allowing an area where new fish can grow.

Councillors have also agreed to spend just over £290,000 on a replacement extension to the Festival Hall. Theatre consultants have already been brought in to consider what could be achieved when the current wooden extension, which includes the kitchen, a meeting room and toilets, is replaced.

The results of a feasibility study on ideas looking at how the venue could be developed are due in the autumn.

Improved lighting, sound, seating, access to the site and new room spaces for public use are all being considered.