THE successful bid for money from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore Bishop's Park and the grounds of Fulham Palace is a cause for celebration.

In a time of increasing austerity in public spending, parks are often among the first to suffer from cutbacks, so it is a relief that the excellent work which has already started can continue.

Fulham Palace is rightly seen as one of the historic jewels of the borough. Impressive refurbishment work completed recently will help attract many more visitors to this oasis of calm by the river.

The dilapidated concrete paths of neighbouring Bishop's Park are in urgent need of attention, but anyone who has strolled through the site will know it too holds enormous potential.

Restoring the Edwardian pleasure beach will bring back to life a patch of ground which has lain desolate since the late 1940s.

Coupled with the plans to create a centre of excellence for tennis where the ageing courts currently stand, this is an exciting time for the parks and for all residents who use them.

The Friends of Bishop's Park and Hammersmith and Fulham Council should be commended for pressing the importance of the site, and for persuading those who hold the purse strings that this project is worthy of funding. * Turn to page 10 for the full story.