An East Wichel play area is set to receive an £80,000 revamp.

New slides, swings and a sand pit are among the disabled-friendly plans for the Fernacre Road site in the wake of a report to South Swindon Parish Council that highlighted deteriorating equipment and drainage issues.

Parish councillor Jane Milner-Barry said families deserved a decent play area.

“It’s one that’s been looking very sad lately and there’s quite a big population in East Wichel, there’s lots of children, it’s quite a young area, so we really want to have a good play area down there.

“The other problem there is it’s very wet. So an important part of this makeover isn’t just putting in the new stuff but doing a good job of draining it so that people can use it in the winter.”

The report said: “The play area at East Wichel is poor and needs improving in order to greatly increase its value to families.

“This is an important play area that serves a large local population and so it is only right that the play area is fantastic.”

Replacing the play equipment will cost the parish £61,937. And problems with the drains, which cause cause the park to flood in the winter, will cost an extra £21,475. Putting the total at £83,412.

The new designs from Mant Leisure feature a range of new pieces of equipment to replace the current old, rotting, wooden units.

They include a sand pit complete with a digger, a large steel unit with slides, new surfacing and a number of swings and spinners.

The report added: “The projects officer believes that this park warrants having a large unit on it as a showpiece and therefore recommends that we spend the extra money.”

Work is due to begin inmediately and there are hopes construction can be completed before winter.

Over the past month the council has been revamping its play areas since taking them over from Swindon Borough Council, including the sites at GWR Park and Cambria Bridge.

Coun Milner-Barry said this was what the public wanted to see from their parish council and their taxes.

She added: “All the parks have got into a really sad state over the years. It’s one of those things that the borough had less and less money to use.

“So they all needed a good make-over from a health and safety point of view more than anything else.

“It will be lovely when this is finished and it will be suitable for disabled children.”