A beloved Sandhurst lake could become a country park, making it a “major new visitor attraction for the borough”.

Council plans have outlined the proposed conversion of Horseshoe Lake into a country park, which would mean a cafe and a playground could be added to the site.

A report produced for the council read: “The development of Horseshoe Lake as a country park has been tested to determine whether a financial saving can be delivered for the council, by generating additional income using this beautiful lakeside location.

“The vision is to create a major new visitor attraction for the Borough, one that takes advantage of its green setting.

“As well as welcoming people to make more use of their natural environment, the new building and playground will encourage people to stay and enjoy food at a new café.

“The profit on the café, catering and room hire and the income from the car park will help pay for the construction of the new building and generate an overall return for the council.”

A final plan and business model will be reviewed and decided on by the council’s executive in the second week of February, 2019.

The council has also proposed that a biomass boiler and a water source pump could be installed at the potential country park that would “generate renewable heat initiative payments from the government.”

The money for these renewable sources would come from the government’s non-domestic renewable heat incentive scheme, in which the funds would be directed to the council over a period of twenty years.

A report read: “Apart from the primary financial return there are many other environmental benefits that will be realised; for instance the educational opportunities to inform the public about the wildlife habitats of the borough and their management as well as understanding of sustainability and responsible use of open space.”

Partial funding for the new country park would come from the sale of two council-owned residential properties which had previously housed Parks and Countryside staff until October 2018.

The proposals come as part of the council’s transformation review for its Parks and Countryside services, which looks at how the authority can gain more money as well as make savings within the department.

The plans will be discussed by the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel on Tuesday, January 8.