MEMBERS of a community fundraising group tasked with bringing a paddling park to a Swindon estate are appealing for volunteers to help turn their dream into a reality.

Lorna Breslin, a member of the Sevenfields Splash Park Steering Group, said she planned to replace a former water attraction in Penhill which was gutted by fire nearly two decades ago.

She has said that more people are needed to raise cash towards the estimate cost of £750,000 for the new structure.

The committee are holding a meeting on Monday night at 6pm in the John Moulton Hall, Penhill, to encourage members of the local community to come and help out.

Lorna, a popular figure in the area, said: “The original play park was one of the greatest assets this community had.

“Many people in Penhill and Pinehurst don’t have the money to go away on holiday, so they went to the pool.

“A lot of people have positive memories about that place. I bet if people knew what they were losing at the time they would have done more to save it.”

The group was formed almost exactly a year ago and has held various fundraisers ever since to raise money for the project.

Lorna said she hoped the new facility would be used by people from outside of the immediate area.

She said: “We want to bring it back to the people of not only Penhill, but neighbouring communities.

“Other neighbourhoods have venues – West Swindon has the Link, North Star has the Oasis, and Dorcan has their own swimming pool. Now it is time for us to build ours again.

“The group plan to maintain the pool and we hope to hold many more events to raise cash, but we need more volunteers.

“The lack of this splash pool has had an effect on a lot of people. It used to be the place where mums, dads, kids, cousins, uncles all met up – but you don’t see that so much anymore.”

Anyone interested in finding out more, or volunteering for the group, has been asked to email Lorna on lornabreslin@hotmail.com or call her on 07500 062679.