MULTI-million pound plans to transform Abergavenny's Bailey Park were unveiled by Monmouthshire council chiefs.

The ambitious £3m plan - three times the original estimate - will include provision for all age groups.

The council had prepared a £1m bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, but this was withheld because of the bid for Monmouth's Shire Hall which precluded the council from submitting the scheme this year.

A bid for a £2.25m grant - with match-funding by the council of £750,000 - will now be made next April, and it is hoped preparation work on the three-year project will begin in 2005.

The council's cabinet member for leisure, Councillor Andre Arkell, said: "It was suggested that if £1m was spent on Bailey Park it would show very little improvement for that amount but if we make a bid for £2.25m we will see a far better project.

"New paths, railings, fencing and planting would take up the £1m, so we held talks with HLF officials, Cadw and our heritage officer Edward Holland, and decided to bid for a far better scheme."

Tim Bradfield, the council's recreation officer, is preparing the bid.

He said: "In addition to the original works which were planned we want to reinstate the Hereford Road entrance gates, which are Grade II listed, and redesign the other entrances," he said.

"The most exciting development planned is the demolition of the swimming pool complex to be replaced by a small woodland and water play feature with pressure pads to set off fountains."

The plans include retaining the greenhouses and linking with Coleg Gwent for their students to work there, growing and nurturing plants.

The scheme will also preserve the rose gardens with a specialist garden designer creating a sensory garden because the park will have better facilities for disabled people to enjoy.

Other aims include: * working with the rugby club to improve their grandstand; * working with the bowls club to develop their pavilion; * changing the tennis courts into multi sports use; * using the grass tennis courts for crazy golf; * total refurbishment of the children's play area; * the addition of an adventure playground for older children; * employing park rangers on a shift basis; * restoration of the Victorian bandstand.