MORE than £400,000 will be spent on improving Coate Water Country Park over the next two years.

A new children’s play area will replace the current one on the east bank of the lake which is currently closed for health and safety reasons following a Covid-secure inspection and often floods because it used to be a concrete paddling pool.

Better footpaths, signs, access to the children’s play areas and access to the park from Day House Lane are all in the pipeline, along with measures taken to mitigate any effects caused by the new development at Badbury Park.

The developer behind the scheme has contributed £424,000 through Section 106 money.

The borough council hopes to start making some of these changes this winter.

The entire improvement project should hopefully be completed within the next two years, by late 2022.

Cabinet member for the town centre, heritage and culture Coun Dale Heenan said: “I'm delighted that major new investment is happening in Coate Water Country Park. Last month, there was unanimous support among cabinet for this funding to be spent.

“I was very pleased, back in May, to become the cabinet member responsible for parks because I walk my dog around a different park every day, and know the great spaces that we have in every corner of our town.

“This £400,000 of improvements is on top of the annual £200k budget for Coate Water, and is just the start of our ambition.

“Unlike many towns and cities, Swindon is blessed with a large number of green spaces and parks that we should all be proud of.

“This council is committed to protecting and improving them for the good of our children, families and the whole Swindon community.”

The improvements will all aim to be in-keeping with Coate Water’s character and status as a country park, as a site of special scientific interest and nature reserve.

A country park improvement plan covering the whole town will be published in the next few months.

Mr Heenan added: “One of the first things I asked council officers to work on was drafting Swindon’s first country park improvement plan, with Coate Water the immediate priority.

“I am working closely with Coun Maureen Penny who is responsible for day-to-day maintenance.

“I look forward to being able to work with ward councillors and share with residents for comments soon.”