Repairs to five closed Calne play areas will have to wait until they are transferred from Wiltshire Council to Calne Town Council after a proposal to begin work immediately failed to secure enough support.
The decision was made at Monday night's Full Council meeting following a debate on the future of the play areas at Fynamore Gardens, Colemans Farm Upper, Colemans Farm Lower, Quemerford Mill and Duncan Street.
The parks, which have been closed for several years after being deemed unsafe, remain owned by Wiltshire Council but are due to transfer to Calne Town Council as part of a wider asset transfer programme. Once the legal transfer is complete, responsibility for maintaining and repairing the sites will pass to the Town Council.
Councillors ultimately approved the recommendation contained within the officer's report, agreeing that no significant refurbishment, replacement or improvement works should be undertaken until legal ownership of the sites has transferred to Calne Town Council.
However, Cllr Mike Sankey put forward a motion calling for repair work to begin immediately rather than waiting for the transfer to be completed.
Following the meeting, he said: "Tonight I presented a motion to Full Council that we should immediately start works to reopen the playgrounds in Calne that are currently owned by Wiltshire Council and have remained closed for many years. Sadly, whilst attracting cross-party support the motion failed."
Cllr Bobby Seymour also supported carrying out repairs before the transfer while ensuring Wiltshire Council remained responsible for any existing liabilities.
He said: "Wiltshire Council has neglected our play areas for years. I voted in favour of getting Calne's play areas repaired before the transfer of assets, while ensuring Wiltshire Council remained responsible for any existing liabilities. Instead, the majority voted to wait. It's the young people of Calne who will pay the price for that delay."
In a statement to Calne News, Calne Town Council said councillors had approved the recommendation set out in the officer's report after being advised the play areas could not be safely reopened without significant repair work and investment.
The council said funding for the improvements had already been identified through its own budget, together with Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 developer contributions.
It added that carrying out only minor or temporary repairs before the transfer could leave the Town Council exposed to potential liability if injuries occurred because of defects that remained unresolved.
The statement said: "The Town Council therefore agreed that a comprehensive programme of repairs and improvements represents the most responsible and sustainable approach to ensuring the play areas can be reopened safely for residents and families."
The council also said it had already sought quotations for the necessary repair work but could not proceed until Wiltshire Council confirmed a definitive date for the transfer of the sites.
It added that it remained committed to taking ownership of the play areas and delivering the improvements as soon as the transfer process was completed, and would continue to press Wiltshire Council to progress the transfer and secure their safe reopening at the earliest opportunity.
Among those disappointed by the decision is Fynamore Gardens resident Jake Ridgley, whose three-year-old son has never been able to use the play area near their home.
"My family moved to Fynamore Gardens in 2023," he said.
"Our child is now three years old and has never been able to use the local play park. Neighbours have told us the park had already been closed before we moved here, meaning local children have been without this community facility for several years."
Mr Ridgley said he has raised the issue with several councillors, submitted a formal complaint to Wiltshire Council and contacted Chippenham MP Sarah Gibson in an effort to get the park reopened. He said other residents are now preparing Stage 2 complaints because they do not believe the issue has been satisfactorily addressed.
Mr Ridgley said Wiltshire Council had confirmed to him in writing that it would have been content for Calne Town Council to carry out repairs before the formal transfer if it wished to do so. He believes beginning the process earlier could have reduced delays caused by procurement and tendering.
"My concern is that procurement, tendering and scheduling repairs all take time," he said.
"Starting that process now could have reduced the overall delay and allowed parks to reopen much sooner. Instead, local families are being asked to wait even longer for facilities that have already been unavailable for years."
Mr Ridgley said the Fynamore Gardens play area is on a recognised school walking route and its closure affects not only nearby residents but many families who pass it every day.
"It has become a visible reminder of a community asset that has been left unused for far too long," he said.
He added: "This issue isn't about politics for me. It's about ensuring that local families have access to the facilities they deserve and asking why an opportunity to begin delivering those benefits sooner wasn't taken when Wiltshire Council had indicated it was prepared to allow repairs before the transfer."
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