A £450,000 country park project could be on the way to Ellesmere.

Shropshire Council last week launched its tender search to create a brand new café and information centre at the Mere as part of Ellesmere Country Park.

Work on the project is expected to start in November with the aim of completing it by March 2020 in time for the Easter period.

A spokesperson for Shropshire Council said: “Our aim is to develop and promote The Mere at Ellesmere Country Park as ‘The Outdoor Recreation Centre of Shropshire’s Lake District’, by creating more outdoor recreational opportunities for visitors; delivering an all-year-round family visitor/tourist destination at the Mere; increasing usage out of the main spring and summer seasons.

“The objective of this project is to design a café/space. The café will be a wooden structure and should be inspired with children in mind as the main end user and a place where adults can enjoy and engage in children’s play and development.

“We would welcome theme-based designs that have children’s adventure and the spirit of Mere at heart. The location of the new café will be set alongside an existing adventure play area and visitor toilets which will both be improved as part of this overall project.”

The latest project builds on the unitary authority’s push to make Ellesmere a top visitor destination in Shropshire.

The spokesperson added: “The project has a maximum budget of £450,000.

“We are seeking tenders that will deliver an innovative and amazing design, as well as value for money.

“The project is scheduled to run from November 2019 to March 2020 and needs to be ready to open for the busy Easter period.”

Those wishing to tender have until the beginning of February to do so before an external funding bid is made later in the year for match funding.

The authority has previously proposed turning a disused depot into a social space with an all-weather indoor play area and a café to be used during key events, such as the annual triathlon and to develop the Mere as a water sports centre.

Other plans to build on the site were strongly rejected.