‘A park fit for future generations’ Plans unveiled for new-look park

PLANS for a revamped King George V playing field in Melksham have been revealed, which include the relocation of the children’s and adventure play areas, a new tree walk sensory garden, cafe,  a bandstand for live performances, changing room and toilet facilities.

The plan has been created by NVB Landscape, who have been appointed by the town council to design and oversee the creation of a plan for the park. The proposed changes have come from ideas shared by the Melksham community and the town council at consultation events held earlier in the year.

The plans suggest: the relocation of the adventure play area to alongside the skate park; moving the children’s play area out of the flood area of Clackers Brook, relocating it close to the pavilion, which will offer a cafe, a changing room and toilet facilities; creating new sports facilities in the south-west corner of the park to include a small grass pitch and an all-weather informal sports surface; the creation of a tree walk sensory garden on the walk that runs parallel to Lowbourne; the creation of a wildlife area next to Clackers Brook on the site of the current play area; improvements to the main path, creating a clear route around the playing field, with more seating and outdoor exercise equipment; and the installation of a bandstand in the north-east corner for small performances.

Mayor of Melksham, cllr Adrienne Westbrook, praised the new design at this month’s town council asset management meeting. “Whenever you talk to people in Melksham about King George V playing field,” she said,  “the open space is what comes out as being the most important element, and I think to put into the park all the things that we have talked about and to have keep the open space is incredibly creative.

“This is not going to happen next year, we’re talking about Big Lottery bids and all those sort of things, but what this does give us is a long-term plan to make sure that our park is fit for future generations.”

The proposed changes will now go out to public consultation until the end of August, and it is hoped that a final plan will be revealed at the end of October.

A ‘mobile’ consultation board will travel around the town, visiting supermarkets and schools, giving residents young and old the chance to comment on which of the proposed changes should be prioritised and offer further suggestions for other changes or improvements that could be made to the playing field.

To find out the location of ‘mobile’ consultation, visit the Melksham Town Council Facebook page.