Saturday, 9am: LINCOLNSHIRE County Council's Environmental Scrutiny Committee heard last week work on the Coastal Country Park could start as early as next year.
The park is estimated to cost £2m and will be built between Sandilands and Chapel St Leonards.
The local authority is one of several partners looking to provide 'high quality facilities for people and better protection for wildlife.'
So far, plans are that the park will cover approximately five miles of coastline and up to 14 square miles of coastal hinterland.
Coun Colin Davie, chairman of the Environmental Scrutiny Committee, said: "At a time when many projects may be in doubt, it's fantastic that we are able to push forward with this exciting and hugely beneficial scheme.
"The park will provide something wonderful to pass on to our next generation and protect the local environment for many years to come."
He added: "Lengthening the tourist season and promoting 'green tourism' will bring long-term economic benefits to the area and the county as a whole."
The Lincolnshire Assembly awarded the project £1.2 million through the Area Based Grant last year and to date, £1,786,000 has been secured – including £250,000 from Wren and £336,000 from other partners.
The county council has confirmed further grant applications have been submitted and are expected to be announced in the near future.
The park is being designed to be rich in wildlife and attract visitors in every season to its natural green space, heritage centre and observatories.
In a consultation document published last year, the council stated 80 per cent of returns from distributed public survey questionnaires supported the development.
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