PROPOSALS to breathe new life into Grange-over-Sands' decaying promenade and lido have received strong support, according to the results of last year's public consultation on the exciting £6 million project.

A breakdown of the 543 comment sheets received by the town regeneration group, 3Ps, showed 70 per cent of responses were in favour of the Time and Tide Project proposals.

The results, which are now available for public inspection at Grange Library, showed strong support for resurfacing and lighting the prom, replacement of the outdated Clare House Lane and Berners Close bridges and creating a public open space.

The only proposals that sparked a negative response were plans for a caf and toilet block based on a magnified grain of sand.

Almost 60 per cent of respondents said they did not like the design, which had previously been condemned as too futuristic for the Edwardian seaside town by some.

The Gazette reported in November how the futuristic building, designed by commissioned architects Austin-Smith:Lord, had met strong opposition from residents and visitors who attended the public consultation.

Around 1,000 people visited the three-day exhibition of the project, which also split opinion among the 3Ps group which comprises local councillors and representatives from town groups working alongside South Lakeland District Council and Cumbria County Council.

While some felt the proposals would give Grange a welcome push into the 21st century, others believed the plans were too modern for the town.

The 3Ps declined to comment on the figures until they met on February 3 to discuss the findings in depth.

But town, district and county councillor Bill Wearing told the Gazette that he was encouraged by the strong support shown during the consultation.

"The enthusiasm for change is certainly out there," he said.

"What we have to do now is make sure we have designs that everybody is happy with so we can make applications for funding that's when the really hard work starts."

The 3Ps is expected to decide on final plans before submitting a bid to funding bodies in the spring to secure the estimated £5.8 million needed for the project.