IMPROVEMENTS will be made to three play areas in Melksham – thanks to a community benefit fund payment from the Sandridge Solar Farm.
Approximately £40,000, will be split between two projects – the installation of a teen shelter and the replacement of a piece of equipment know locally as ‘the parrot’ at the Woody play area (Queensway); and improvements to the play areas at Primrose Drive and Dorset Crescent.
The money, which is given to the town council, is part of an ongoing agreement for the installation of the solar farm, which opened in June 2016. For the 25-year lifetime of the project, a community fund of around £44,000 per year was established.
At last week’s full town council meeting, councillors backed the proposal to use the money for the three play areas, but also decided that going forward, future payments will be used each year to fund ‘major capital projects’ in the town – and improving all nine play areas in the town is their top priority.
At the meeting, cllr Adrienne Westbrook said, “I’d like to see our play areas brought up to standard, because they are not. I’d like to make certain that we use this money so that we can tell our residents that the solar farm money was used for the community’s benefit.”