COUNCILLORS and volunteers that have worked hard to make numerous improvements to a popular park in Yate hope that plans to build a new play area just 30 metres away will be scrapped.

The new Ladden Garden Village development in North Yate could soon be blessed with a brand new play area, but it would be just a little more than a tennis court’s distance away from an existing park.

There are concerns that planning officers proposals to build a new park would be a waste of money and would also lead to separation and not integration of the two neighbouring communities.

The developers of the new development have said that they are happy to speak with the Friends of Brinsham Park and also members of Yate Town Council.

Yate Town Cllr Chris Willmore and South Gloucestershire Councillor Mike Drew took the issue to South Gloucestershire Strategic Sites Committee along with members of the Friends volunteer group.

Speaking at a council meeting last month, Cllr Willmore said: “There is a significant play area in the park, about 30 metres away. That is nonsense.

“We have an opportunity to prevent it and provide one really good play area.

“The only obstacle to getting a sensible solution of co-location is that South Gloucestershire Council agreed in the masterplan to having two play areas.

“You are the only people who can unlock that mess.

“To have two play areas, run by different people, 30 metres apart means we end up with duplication and spending money to fence two areas, and on bins and all that other stuff we already have, so we end up wasting money unnecessarily that could be used for play.”

South Gloucestershire Council officers gave the green light for the new park to be built despite the opposition.

Cllr Chris Willmore has said that they still hope to work with developers to sort the ‘mess’ with the park.

The volunteers and councillors are still hoping to meet to discuss how best to move forward with any potential plans for the area.