'Depressing' play park given £50k makeover

A park described as the most "depressing" play area in Wiltshire has been given a makeover after a five-year community effort.

The park in The Close, Redlynch, is estimated to have been built in the 1970s and had fallen into a state of disrepair.

"I've been all over the county and frankly I hadn't seen one more dilapidated or depressing," said Wiltshire councillor Zoe Clewer. "This really took the biscuit by a country mile."

Mrs Clewer began a campaign to replace the park in 2020 and it has now reopened after having £50,000 spent on it.

Wiltshire Council funded the project as part of a county-wide park improvement programme after Redlynch Parish Council agreed to take over responsibility for its running.

The work included installing a new climbing frame, slide, swings and monkey bars.

The former park has been an eyesore for the community for decades

Mrs Clewer said how little had been done at the park became apparent when she spoke to one young girl in The Close.

"She showed me graffiti that had been done by her mum years and years ago, clearly a generation ago - and what that told me was this place had not had a lick of paint in 20 years," Mrs Clewer said.

She added: "The household incomes here [in The Close, Redlynch], are a good deal lower than just a couple of streets away.

"This area has been neglected a little bit. We need to look after these areas and we need to include people."

The running of the park has now been handed to the parish council.

Chairman Ian Harvey said the area had been a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.

"It didn't help with the play area how it was," he said. "At least people here now see that both the parish council and Wiltshire Council care about them and are willing to spend some money on trying to do something."

Left to right: Clarissa Cranmer, Zoe Clewer and Ian Harvey

Clarissa Cranmer is part of the parish council and works at the local primary school.

She described the project as a "huge community effort", adding children said it was "not fair" that the park was in such poor state.

Children were asked what they wanted in the park, and Ms Cranmer said they requested monkey bars and mini trampoline.

The work was done as part of a £603,000 project to upgrade play areas in Wiltshire if parish councils agree to take them over.

So far nine play areas have been upgraded with nine more projects in progress.

Councillor Martin Smith, Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for street scenes, said: "These improvements will make a lasting difference in rural communities, enabling more children to stay active and have fun.

"We look forward to continuing to support communities in creating vibrant, inclusive spaces for play and recreation."