THOUSANDS of pounds are to be spent improving cemeteries and security in the district over the next year.

Maldon District Council is set to unveil its business plan for the 2017/18 financial year at a meeting of its Community Services Committee this week.

The Standard reported in November that the council were planning a £275,000 makeover of Promenade Park, which would include a state-of-the-art play area, car park improvements and Park Road repairs.

In addition, the business plan stated that £57,000 will be spent on building a roadway at Burnham Cemetery on Southminster Road, and a chapel for Heybridge cemetery on Goldhanger Road, costing £25,000, both aimed for completion in March 2018.

The council also plan to spend £30,000 on installing CCTV in its town centre car parks and on Maldon High Street, also due for March next year.

The plan also states how the council want to promote the district as a place to start and grow a business, through a package with a range of offers.

These include a discount on business rates for new businesses and those relocating to the district, fast tracked planning services, business support services including accessible web pages and co-ordination for locally based business forums.

The discount service scheme is due to be reviewed by September, with the package fully implemented by March next year.

Richard Holmes, director of the council's Customers and Community Directorate, said: "The business package was designed by the council to work as commercially as possible with offering Maldon as a place for businesses.

"Obviously, we know businessmen and women have a choice in where they want to start, we're in a much more competitive age. The package was worked to make the Maldon district a rich and supportive environment to grow a business.

The cemetery improvements come after many residents reported they could not reach they're loved ones graves due to them being so overgrown.

Mr Holmes said that it was a "difficult year" as wet weather caused the greenery to grow at once, but is confident the council are better prepared.

He said; "Last year was a difficult time for the crews as a lot of rainfall caused all types of shrubbery to grow at once, meaning it got out of control.

"With these new improvements set for the roadway in Burnham and roof repairs to the chapel in Heybridge and the council's better preparation for cemetary maintenance, we feel confident those issues will not be repeated."