Questions are being raised about the whereabouts of £18,000 worth of dog agility equipment purchased for Melksham’s Dog Bark – and what plans the town council has for the space.
The Dog Bark in King George V Playing Fields was temporarily closed in 2023 after residents raised safety concerns about the new equipment, which was said to be too high and slippery. A Melksham News investigation found the equipment did not meet the Kennel Club’s ‘fun agility’ guidelines, with one piece over a metre taller than recommended. The Kennel Club said it was “deeply concerned”, prompting councillors to shut the site and remove the structures.
The equipment consists of three hurdles, one hoop, a pipe tunnel, a dog walk, a ramp, a see-saw, and several square metal poles for dogs to zigzag around.
However, over 18 months on, the Dog Bark remains an empty, open space for dog exercise, with no agility equipment in place – prompting renewed calls for transparency over what has happened to the costly equipment and what plans exist for the future of the site.
One local resident, Paul Bentley, who says he has been seeking answers from the town council ‘for a long time’, said, “What are the plans regarding the equipment purchased for the dog park that remains in storage? Where does the council plan to use this, and when?”
At the time of writing, Paul had not received a response from the council. Melksham News has also contacted the council for an update and statement on the status of the equipment and the future of the site, but has also received no reply.
In February last year, the council said that any new plans for the space would need to begin with the complete removal of the current surface. The cost of the project could reach £40,000, including the initial £18,000 already spent.
Councillors said they were open to reintroducing agility equipment in the area but wanted to find the best long-term solution that is safe and cost-effective for taxpayers.
In the meantime, residents continue to question how public money has been spent – and what the future holds for the Dog Bark.
