Gravesham is set to benefit from a haul of lottery and community funding with a refurbished play area and the restoration of the iconic clock tower.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded Gravesham council £172,300 to repair the local landmark which sits to the east of the town centre.

Thanks as well to a £30,000 grant from the Young Person’s Champion Fund the playground near Whinfell Way on the Riverview Park estate will be completely refurbished too.

For years it has been in a poor condition and was under-used.

Now £25,000 will be spent on new equipment and surfacing, and £5,000 on a sensory garden.

Year two students at Riverview Infant School have played a big part in the design for the playground and have been working with cabinet member for young people, Cllr Jordan Meade, during the planning stages. Students from the School Eco Club will also maintain the garden once finished.

The work on the park has already started. The council’s Team Green apprentices and horticulture staff have been clearing the site and the equipment will be installed over the coming weeks by contractor Playdale.

The playground is due to be finished after Easter, with the Eco Garden brought up and maintained over time but the school and community.

Cllr Meade said: “This project is about much more than new equipment and I really hope that partnership with the school’s Eco Club will give the students a sense of ownership. I have been thoroughly impressed by the skills, ideas and designs submitted by the Year Two students. They have been vital in the design process and they have already made a number of key changes to our original plans.”

Meanwhile Gravesend’s 51 feet clock tower, built in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, needs repairs to the stonework.

The Grade II listed clock needs restorations to the faces, hands and a lighting scheme is to be put in to illuminate the tower at night.

Cllr John Cubitt, leader of Gravesham council said: “This is excellent and very timely news. We can now get on with repairing the clock tower and keeping this iconic landmark for future generations.”