A PARK South charity will welcome a vital makeover of its car parking facilities thanks to a grant from The Hills Group landfill firm.

Community project Restore, which operates out of St John's Church hall, in Whitbourne Avenue opposite Cavendish Square, has long complained about the state of the adjacent car park, which is speckled with loose stones, large potholes and an uneven surface.

Not only did this make for hazardous journeys for the elderly and disabled pedestrians, but also damaged customers' tyres and steering on their vehicles, which is exaggerated by ice and sow in the winter months.

But three years after the project decided to start a fundraising campaign to resurface the car park as a gift to the church, the campaign has now been handed a £10,558 grant from the Hills Group's Landfill Communities Fund, meaning work can now go ahead.

Ian Howard, project manager at Restore, said: “We are delighted with the new car park, it is everything that we had hoped for. We can now park our van and load and unload with no fear of slipping on the uneven surface.

"Our customers are delighted and say how much it improves their visit to Restore.”

One of the regular customers said that the car park development was “brilliant news”.

She said that it meant that “people could cross the car park with their shopping trollies much easier than before”.

The money was made available through the fund which is administered for Hills by Community First, the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire.

Chris Watts, councillor for Liden, Eldene and Parks South, said, “I am delighted for Swindon Restore and the Parks community. This is great work by all those involved to achieve a positive outcome and improve the area for all.

"A good example of what can be achieved by hard work, determination and community spirit.”

Revd Teresa Michaux, from St John's Church, said: "We are delighted to have been in partnership with Restore on this project and are absolutely thrilled with the resurfacing work now completed on our car park.

"This means those who visit the church cab park safely and gives a superbly welcoming appearance to the area."

Restore is also looking forward to using the space in a variety of ways such as a venue for the forthcoming Party in the Parks, which is scheduled for September 12, occasional markets and other community events.