'Disappointment' as new £45m park floods

A new £45m river park designed to prevent flooding to nearby properties has closed due to flooding.

This week's heavy rain has left paths at Salisbury River Park submerged by water. The project, jointly funded by the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council, was designed to protect about 350 homes by reshaping a stretch of the River Avon.

Councillor Sam Charleston, from the city council, said: "It is fair to say it [the flooding] is disappointing. I'm confident that the Environment Agency (EA) will be doing everything they can to sort it."

The EA said remedial work is under way on the park's pavements to improve water drainage and prevent future flooding.

Salisbury's River Park was designed amid a wider plan to protect hundreds of properties from flooding and reduce flood risks to key transport infrastructure, including the A36.

Mr Charleston told BBC Radio Wiltshire: "There has been an extraordinary amount of heavy rain over the last few days, and it is indeed an area of notorious for flooding, which isn't to say that this shouldn't have happened."

An EA spokesperson said flooding at the park will be resolved by some changes to the ground and footpath areas, which will be implemented over the next few weeks.

"This will allow water to drain from this area following similar rainfall in the future," they added.

An EA spokesperson said they had installed a pump to clear the water.

Since opening in August, the park has also been criticised for not offering inclusive play equipment for children with additional needs, despite it being described as an "accessible space".

Resident Rebecca said there "wasn't anything" her two-year-old daughter Hannah, who has cerebral palsy and is non-mobile, non-verbal and reliant on a nasal cannula, could use.

An EA spokesperson said they are adding an additional entrance to improve the park's accessibility.