TWO popular play areas in Malmesbury are to be given a new lease of life.

Malmesbury Town Council has completed the transfer by lease of the two Wiltshire County Council-owned playparks at Filands and Newton Grove.

They have also taken over a grass area to allow a new tarmac path at Filands to be built.

Funding given to the community from the Filands development 10 years ago had a deadline to be spent by the end of March, otherwise it would have gone back to the developer.

Malmesbury Town Council and Wiltshire County Council managed to agree a deal just before the deadline expired.

A new path has already been laid at Filands, allowing parents with buggies to have better access to the site.

And should it rain, families will no longer have to walk through the grass.

Also part of the plans is repairing existing play equipment and adding a picnic table in the Newton Grove.

A large fence around the Filands park is also in the plans to prevent dog fouling and other issues.

The long term hope for the town council is to purchase the parks permanently from the county and not just to lease them.

Malmesbury town councillor Gavin Grant said: “I am delighted that these two play parks are now under the town council’s control.

“They will now be properly looked after and equipped.

“Of course there is more to be done.

“I know our new deputy mayor and mayor will be a very strong supporters of‎ getting all this done.

“I am also very pleased that the town council lease has also allowed the new path to be built at Filands.

“This means residents‎ can really enjoy the area to the full. I and the town council have worked hard with residents to make sure that the £30,000 available has now been well spent.”