Work on a new Coate Water playground for children is set to start next year – with the hope it's ready for use by youngsters by the warmer months.

Swindon Borough Council has given £500,000 contract to play park specialist ESP Play Parks to build the new facility near the  park’s accessible parking spaces.

And the park itself will be fully accessible for users with disabilities; flat paths into it from the parking area will be constructed and equipment will include an inclusive wheelchair roundabout, an inclusive multi-play seesaw and a larger multi-play unit as well as swings including one which is wheelchair accessible.

In-ground trampolines, slides and a nine-platform multi-play unit will also be added to keep children entertained as well as an inclusive sandpit, sensory bells and wind chimes, together with an inclusive spinning carousel.

Up to 100 children from toddlers up to those aged 14 will be able to use the park at any one time.

Matty Courtliff, the council’s cabinet member for culture, heritage and leisure, said: “Delivering a new play park at Coate Water has been one of my top priorities so it’s fantastic we can announce that work will start in a matter of weeks. It’s great news just before Christmas.

“We have been working closely with ESP who are experts in accessible play parks and I am delighted we have been able to incorporate a wheelchair accessible swing as that was something local group Mums on a Mission were keen to see included in the new park.

“This will be Swindon’s fully-accessible play park and, when it’s finished, every child in Swindon will have somewhere to play and express themselves, so I’m really excited to see the finished results in time for the warmer weather in Spring.”

Funding for the new play park has been secured from contributions from house builders with construction set to take around 12 weeks.

Jenny Jefferies, ward councillor for Chiseldon and Lawn is very excited. She said: “I have been working for some time to make sure that the contributions from the development at Badbury Park are spent on delivering an accessible playground at Coate Water that will benefit residents in Badbury Park and Lawn.

“I am thrilled that this is finally becoming a reality and am excited by the progress that will now be made. I look forward to a spring opening in readiness for a summer of accessible play for all our children."