TOWN councillors in Warminster are planning a £156,000 investment to improve the town's play areas and build a new paddling pool.

They have already set aside £100,000 to replace the outdated paddling pool in the Lake Pleasure Ground.

And they have budgeted a further £56,000 to improve the town's eight play areas.

The council has already gone out to tender for replacing the paddling pool, which has been operating since 1947.

The popular pool was out of action for three days in August to allow council contractors to repair and repaint the surface.

Councillors are hoping to get tenders back in by today from interested contractors.

Assistant town clerk, Tom Dommett, said the pool is now 72 years old and coming to the end of its life span.

"It has had a good run for its money but it's now time to replace it.

"The surface of the pool keeps crumbling because it is so old and water seeps up through it.

"The surface also gets damaged by people using it and riding their bicycles over it when it's empty during the winter."

The repairs in August enabled the council to keep the pool going until the end of the summer while it sought designs for a new facility.

Councillors plan to look at these in November and then make a final decision on a replacement paddling pool to be built in time for next summer.

Mr Dommett said: "We will be looking for it to be eco-friendly with water recycling facility to keep the cost down and hoping to have a pool with a few more features."

Meanwhile, councillors will make a decision on the play areas at their full council meeting on November 18.

They have received a leasing agreement for the play areas from Wiltshire Council to consider.

Mr Dommett said: "We had hoped for a full transfer but councillors will discuss a leasing agreement instead."

The hope is that councillors will agree to sign a seven-year licence to take on the management of the town's eight play areas.

These are located at Pound Street, The Heathlands, Princess Gardens, Fore Street, The Dean, Queensway, Portway Lane and The Beeches.

Wiltshire Council wants to transfer the play areas because budget cuts means it can no longer afford to maintain them.