A £4.6M plan to improve a North garden will be discussed by councillors next week.

The Harrogate Valley Gardens plan aims to create quality gardens that conserve and celebrate the town's heritage, as well as provide an all-weather, year-round attraction.

Among the proposals are to create a water feature, build a play area, paddling pool and putting green, employ a ranger for site security, education and training, and repair historic buildings.

Harrogate Borough Council wants to divide the plan into a number of phases, and if it receives the backing of councillors, the Heritage Lottery Fund will be approached for funding.

Patrick Kilburn, the council's head of parks and open spaces, said: "To the visitor, the gardens probably seem fine, but when you look more closely, there is a gradual decline taking place.

"There is a lot of public support for the scheme and it is possible to develop the first phase at no capital cost to the council.

"The proposals address all of the issues that have been identified as areas of concern, including the issue of safety and security."