Local campaigners pushing for a 'Splash Pad' in a Salisbury park will present their proposals and petition for discussion at a full council meeting this evening (10th November).
The campaigners included former Salisbury City Councillor, Jo Broom, who, along with others, believes that a water play park facility would be a great addition to one of the city's parks, highlighting Churchill Gardens as a good option.
They propose that the new splash pad could be located near the toilets at Churchill Gardens, but also believe that several of the local parks would be suitable locations.
Many families with children often travel to Warminster or Christchurch to make use of the splash park facilities on offer in those towns, and it is thought that by some that a facility like this in Salisbury would be to the benefit of the city's economy.
Ms Broom, along with fellow campaigners Helena Warden-Judd and Tamsin Scott, will present the petition at a full council meeting this evening, arguing that it would be a good investment for the council to make.
The idea of building a Salisbury splash park was first raised in January, when it was included in the Conservative group's alternative budget proposals. The scheme, which would cost an estimated £250,000, was discussed during the budget-setting process but not adopted.
Jo Broom told the Salisbury Journal, “My daughter regularly travels with my grandchildren to Warminster to use their splash park facility.
“A facility of that kind in a city the size of Salisbury would be really valued and used. “We believe there could be avenues of funding available without having to threaten to put up council tax.
“I speak to my daughter and her friends, and as a councillor, I spoke to lots of people who said the same thing: why has Warminster got one, and why hasn’t Salisbury got one?
“I would like the council to commit to coming up with a plan for having a splash park – ideally in Churchill Gardens, but we have several lovely parks in Salisbury, and I think any of them could work. I would like for it to form part of their budget plans for next year.
“We want to encourage as many people as possible who want to support it to come along to the meeting.
“I don’t think they appreciated the level of keenness for this to happen in the city, and I’m keen to get that message across to them.”
The meeting takes place at 6:30 pm this evening at Salisbury Guildhall, and members of the public are welcome to attend.
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