WORK is soon to begin on a new play area at Old Sarum after the land was "finally" transferred from developer to parish council.

Laverstock and Ford Parish Council have taken control of the green space on the Old Sarum estate from Persimmon Homes but are still waiting for another piece of land to be transferred.

Last month parish councillors hit out at the developer over the delays in delivering a number of community assets on the estate.

Councillor Paul Tunnicliffe who lives at Old Sarum said: “After months of lobbying, we have finally taken control of the Old Sarum Archaeological Open Space at the new residential area at Old Sarum.

"The developers hung onto the land and maintenance funds well beyond the trigger point for it to be released.

“Last month following a formal complaint from the parish council, Wiltshire Council issued an enforcement letter to the developers. This moment has been far too long in the coming and we sincerely hope that Persimmon Homes will make amends by handing us the MoD greenspace at Old Sarum together with maintenance monies at the earliest opportunity.”

The council plan to turn the site into flower meadows with a play area and outdoor gym.

Council chairman David Burton said: “We are very relieved to have finally taken control of the green space. Children have already been consulted on the types of play equipment they would like and we will also be involving them in the design of the play space and asking adults about what additional features they would like to enjoy too.

“We will be looking into including interpretative features which reflect the buried archaeology of the site, an iron age settlement, similar to those recently discovered on land earmarked for the Laverstock and Ford Country Park.”

Richard Briggs, managing director for Persimmon Homes Wessex, said the MoD greenspace transfer was in process of being finalised and would be completed in “two to three weeks’ time”.