A POPULAR walking group has moved its meeting place to avoid upsetting the residents of Queens Road, Devizes.

The Devizes U3A Longer Walks group has been meeting at Hillworth Park since it started about seven years ago. Members park their cars there before pooling lifts and driving off to start their walk.

Since the major refurbishment of Hillworth Park by Devizes Town Council last year usage of the park has gone up considerably and has led to more cars being parked in Queens Road as the park’s car park has limited spaces.

This has upset residents in Queens Road and some have written to the town council about it.

Barbara Carlile-Donald, who has led the walking group since last year, said the group took the decision to relocate their meeting place from Hillworth Park to Devizes Sports Club in London Road, from today.

She said: “We love Devizes and we just want to do what is right.

“When the walking group started there were two or three cars. Now we average 15 to 18 walkers and sometimes up to 25 if it is a nice day.

“It was a quite a big decision to move from Hillworth Park but because it is being used a lot more by the community it meant we were getting in everyone’s way.

“So we decided to move to a new meeting venue. The Sports Club have welcomed us warmly and we are happy to have somewhere where we can meet, sort out transport in various cars without the danger of doors being taken off by lorries in a narrow, busy street.”

The walking group meets on Thursdays and Fridays each week and the walks range from five to eight miles within a 20-mile radius of Devizes. Membership of the U3A is for retired and semi-retired people and costs £15 a year.

Contact Mrs Carlile-Donald on 07429 323204.