MORE than £100,000 is being spent on sprucing up Monkton Park in Chippenham in a bid to attract more people to use it.

The park is due to get a major facelift in the new year with a new play area, landscaping and new benches.

The play area, which has attracted fierce criticism in the past for its poor condition, is set to benefit from a £55,000 grant.

Dick Tonge, leader of North Wiltshire District Council, said: “This is brilliant news and something we are very proud to be doing.

“In recent years the park has become a little tired looking and run-down and hopefully this is exactly what it needs.

“We want to make it the focal point of Chippenham town centre again.”

As well as the play park grant, a further £65,000 will be used to landscape the town bridge entrance to the park which has become an eyesore in the past few years.

Chippenham Folk Festival organiser Bob Berry, who has campaigned for something to be done for several years, said he was delighted.

He said: “I have been campaigning for improvements to be made in the park for the past 15 years, so I am glad that something is now being done.

“Monkton Park should be the jewel in the crown of Chippenham.

“We will have to wait and see what the money will be used for as £65,000 is not that much money.”

Last year Mr Berry took it upon himself to organise a clean-up operation in the park the two weekends before last year’s folk festival.

The folk festival, held every year in Monkton Park, attracts thousands of visitors from all around the world.