PLANS to spend £3m transforming a country park between Petersfield and Clanfield have been unveiled.

Transforming the visitor centre at Queen Elizabeth Country Park (QECP) will be the central theme of the £3m of proposed improvements at the 766-hectare park.

Councillor Andrew Gibson, Hampshire County Council (HCC) Executive Member for Culture, Recreation and Countryside, said: “This (proposed) investment is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Queen Elizabeth Country Park to improve visitor facilities, making more of it’s natural and historical features, and helping it become more financially self-sustaining.”

The plans include a bigger café in the visitor centre, a more welcoming entrance, an outdoor sheltered area, and space for tourism based businesses; that will all contribute to the park’s income generation.

New play features are included as part of the Forts and Fleets project which will develop a new fitness assault course, a dog agility trail and community space – part-funded by £163,000 already pledged from the Armed Forces Covenant Grant Scheme.

A multi-use learning space for groups and private hire will also be developed.

A funding commitment of £1.75m from the council could help attract match funding of £850,000 from the Enterprise M3 LEP Local Growth Fund.

The South Downs National Park Authority is also eager to support and work with the council to transform the country park as a hub and a gateway into the National Park.

Staunton Country Park at Havant is also set benefit from the proposed improvement programme, with council putting forward a £4.7m work programme, scheduled to be finished ahead of Staunton’s bicentenary in 2019.

The majority of the work at the 193 hectare site will focus on the historic parkland and will include restoration of the Grade II* registered landscape.

Conservation work will be carried out on the historic follies and buildings, and the Victorian Coach House converted into a visitor centre including a café.

It is also proposed that a vocational training centre is built in partnership with Highbury College and other partners such as the Beacon Community Partnership.

The decision to go ahead with the works at both parks is due to be made by HCC leader, Councillor Roy Perry, on Wednesday, November 9.