MAYESBROOK Park, Barking, has won a �400,000 makeover following a public vote, it was announced today (Wednesday). Londoners were recently invited by Mayor Boris Johnson to vote on a shortlist of parks across the capital in order to fund improvements to m

MAYESBROOK Park, Barking, has won a �400,000 makeover following a public vote, it was announced today (Wednesday).

Londoners were recently invited by Mayor Boris Johnson to vote on a shortlist of parks across the capital in order to fund improvements to make them more attractive and safer for local communities. More than 110,000 people cast their vote.

Funding for the parks' makeovers comes from efficiency savings made from the former administration's publicity budget including the scrapping of The Londoner newspaper.

Mr Johnson, said: "In a fantastic show of people power, Londoners have voted in their droves to decide which of their 10 favourite parks will get a makeover. So is it incredibly exciting to reveal today the results of the 'parks plebiscite', and thanks to this loyal support of local people, 10 parks across the capital are now set to become much more pleasant places.

"Londoners deserve a better quality of life and making a greener, more attractive city is a top priority, so I am thrilled to announce that Mayesbrook Park and Fairlop Waters Country Park, Redbridge, are deserving winners."

Mayesbrook was chosen because, although much of the park is featureless short grassland, there are some attractive large ponds and the Mayes Brook runs along the side of the park in an ugly straight channel.

There are plans to naturalise parts of the river, creating wetland habitat, linking up with the ponds. This will double as flood storage in the event of severe storms which are anticipated as a result of climate change. New areas of woodland will be planted, and there are plans for improvements to park entrances and play facilities. If additional funding can be secured, it is hoped to develop a new community caf�.

Detailed plans will be drawn up in conjunction with Barking and Dagenham Council.