A YOUNG campaigner is celebrating after formal plans were put forward to build a play area in Wichelstowe.

Last summer, six-year-old Sadie Ball started a petition to try to get people to support her wish to build a park close to her home.

A formal planning application has now been put forward and Sadie is hopeful that by summer she and her friends will have somewhere to play.

“I think it’s really good,” said the East Wichel Primary School pupil.

“I was really excited when I saw some plans last year. I just hope they have swings.”

Her mother, Belinda Neal, 33, said she was very proud of her daughter for organising the petition.

“It came about when Sadie said she wished there was a play area near her and I said maybe if enough people agreed then it would happen,” she said.

“I think she is pleased because for someone her age to have an idea and see something happen is fantastic.

“At the moment if we want to go to a park then we have to get in a car, so it will be nice to have something nearby.

“Councillor Nadine Watts (Lab, Old Town) has been very helpful in bringing this about and I think when it opens the play area will help bring the whole community together.”