Monday's cabinet decision to press ahead with the scheme – albeit in drastically reduced form – was a courageous one.

But we think it is the right course.

The park is a valued town asset. Investment to bring it up to date and up to standard is sorely overdue.

The fact that despite having advanced £44,000 to fund the creating of a redevelopment plan the Heritage Lottery Board did not see fit to agree the resultant Rother bid should not be allowed to divert Rother from its purpose.

Key elements of the £4m plan have inevitably had to be dropped in order to keep spending within the £1m which Rother had put aside as lottery match-funding.

Sadly, one of the vital projects which has had to go is the much-needed dredging of the lakes – no small matter at nearly £270,000.

But the revised scheme does retain some attractive features which should surely help restore the park's fortunes.

Pre-eminent among these is the new children's playground – or "destination play-zone" in Town Hall-speak.

If there was one element which should have been included in the fatuous Next Wave project it was a seafront attraction for children. The fact that children and young people are totally overlooked is among the many aspects which make Next Wave an unacceptable and needless luxury.

The proposed bigger and better play area allied to the proposed kiosk and boathouse offering a much-needed refreshment area together with a centre for managing park games and supplying information about the open space could give Egerton Park the focus it currently lacks.

Spending £1m on the park now is a wise investment. Monday's report makes it clear that re-planting will be subject to capacity and ability of contractors John O'Conner Ltd. to meet the council's requirements.

It also makes it clear that other aspects of park improvement must wait for the moment.

But at least a start is being made. The rest of the plan serves as valuable guideline for possible future investment when the economic climate improves.