A DELAYED redevelopment scheme set to transform a former Hampshire allotment site into a community park is back on track thanks to a major cash boost.

Gosport's Leesland Park is well on course to becoming a popular hub of local leisure, conservation and sporting activity after its backers received a welcome £60,000 investment.

The money, donated by waste management operators A&J Bull (Southern) Ltd under a landfill tax credit scheme, has already been earmarked by project leaders Groundwork Gosport for a hard court sports area and a skateboard arena.

The long-awaited community makeover, launched in Nove-mber 1997, was due to be completed this year but the scale of the work saw the finish date moved back to next spring.

While a great deal of work has already been carried out by volunteer group The Friends of Leesland Park, funding has yet to be put in place for a proposed sensory garden and further conservation work.

But the project's organisers, who have already overseen £35,000 expenditure, are confident that further donations will be found and the work will now be brought in on time.

Marian Barber, executive director of Groundwork Gosport, said: "Work did slip somewhat and this year was meant to be the last year of work.

"It is progressing well at the moment and we are trying to raise money for other features.

"We have been trying to get funding for things the local people had in the original plan.

"The new sport facilities were in the original plans but were never undertaken because they relied on the funding being there."

It is now hoped at least one of the new sport facilities will be in place by August.

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