RESIDENTS in Melksham creating a new mini country park are to apply for planning approval for a car park.

The Friends of Shurnhold Fields want to create parking for up to ten cars on the site of the former George Ward School playing fields.

The group want to improve access to the park, which will have an element for wildlife, for local people to enjoy its facilities.

They have recently spent time repairing fences and planting more trees and will be creating pathways.

Last month, they began work to prepare a section to create a wildflower meadow.

A new notice board, benches, bins, picnic benches, and dog poo bag dispensers have also been installed in the space.

Melksham Without Parish Council, together with Melksham Town Council, has jointly funded the park.

MWPC parish clerk Teresa Strange said: "The digger is scraping the top soil for the sowing of a wildflower meadow.

"The spoil has been used to create bunds to direct the flow of surface flood water away from the houses on Dunch Lane and into the watercourse, on the advice of the drainage team at Wiltshire Council.

"Land drainage consent was sought and obtained for this project.

"The next project is the car park and improved entrance and that will also need land drainage consent and planning permission.

The councils are working with a newly-formed group of volunteers, the Friends of Shurnhold Fields, on the joint project.

To help the Friends of Shurnhold Fields, email: shurnholdfields@gmail .com