A RUN-DOWN community facility could soon benefit from hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Organisations are working together on exciting plans to revamp Marine Lake in Clevedon.

North Somerset Council is set to submit an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for financial support to bring the attraction back into good working order.

Although a firm figure for the amount of money to be requested has not been decided, those behind the project say they hope to secure hundreds of thousands of pounds for the work.

The local authority is working with the town council, the Civic Society and the Marine Lake Enthusiasts Society (MARLENS) on the proposals, which include improving a small bathing pool at one end of the site for younger swimmers, introducing a new launching ramp and generally refurbishing and updating the facility near the Salthouse Fields.

MARLENS chairman Joe Norman said: “Clevedon has a beautiful seafront and the lake is an integral part of that.

“It means a lot to the community and you’ll find many people have good memories of swimming there as a child.

“It is used by many local schools and clubs and it’s coming back into fashion to swim outside. The lake is important to the town.”

Marine Lake was built in 1929, but by 2004 it had become derelict.

MARLENS was formed to try to bring it back into efficient working order and, although both the group and North Somerset Council have carried out repairs over the years, a leak in the outer wall means water levels keep falling in parts.