A £215,000 revamp of a town council-owned green space in Aberystwyth - that previously had a much maligned ‘rope maze’ - will create a new wildlife community garden.

The town council heard at a meeting last Monday that it has been successful in getting a £215,205 Welsh Government Local Places for Nature Challenge Fund grant to upgrade infrastructure and accessibility and to enhance biodiversity at the North Road site, where in 2013, councillors forked out £6,000 to build a labyrinth using 720 wooden posts linked by a mile of rope which was labelled “horrendous” and “weird” by residents and visitors.

The labyrinth was removed at a cost of £1,500 in 2019 after councillors said it was not being used, and concerns over anti-social behaviour at the site.

A consultation was launched by the town council in January 2020 to ask residents what they wanted to see at the now empty site.

The council said that following the “extensive public consultation exercise over a period of a few months”, it was “demonstrated very strongly that the local community wanted the biodiversity of the park improved in order to sustain wildlife and to combat climate change”.

“This project will provide the community with the biodiverse green space it has asked for,” the council said.

The project will see the “removal of many of the built structures of the former bowling green, whilst utilising some elements to create growing spaces”.

Repairs will be carried out to the traditional stone walls and will be extended to create “aesthetically pleasing raised beds that also provide habitats for insects, small mammals and reptiles”.

Cash will also be used to improve access and “eliminate trip hazards” by “creating new paths and improving the existing through route”.

There will be “extensive planting of varied trees, shrubs, plants and meadows to support wildlife”, the council said, as well as provision of water points for drinking and garden watering and improvements to lighting.

The council said: “We will be creating raised beds by enhancing the bowling green hard edging on two sides but removing it from the other two sides to great a gently sloping open park.

“We hope to work with partners to encourage community participation in growing food in sections of the raised bed whilst ensuring the park is also attractive even in winter.

“A water connection will be provided for watering and drinking and the hard landscaping enhanced by restoring and improving the stone walls and paths.

“Some solar lighting is going to be introduced too to improve visibility.”

Councillors celebrated securing the grant after being told the bid was successful at the end of its annual general meeting on Monday, 24 May.

Aberystwyth council clerk Gweneira Raw-Rees is preparing tender documents as the council pushes the plans forward to bring the scheme to fruition.