THE footpath around the lake in a Warminster town park is to be re-surfaced at a total cost of £17,532.

Town councillors voted to accept a £14,610 plus VAT quotation from contractors Valletta Surfacing Ltd of Standerwick to re-surface the path in the Lake Pleasure Grounds.

Last year, they agreed to carry out laying new tarmacadam on the "highest priority" areas of the path. Valletta did this work in the summer.

Over the past 12 months, council officers have monitored other areas of the footpath.

They said: "The tarmac has deteriorated markedly and begun to break up, causing trip hazards.

"This has been made even worse by the recent flooding in the park."

The work to be carried out by Valletta will cover two areas. The first will cost £12,320 plus VAT, and the second £2,290 plus VAT.

The first will link the two areas of tarmac recently carried out around the lake with an increased depth to raise the surface at the southern end to prevent flooding. The second will continue from the north-west side of the lake.

Officers feel this second area is important as it provides the main access to the recently-built skate park.

The funds to make the repairs will be taken from the £21,788 available in the Town Park repairs and renewals budget.

But councillors decided to ask for more information before going ahead with a recommendation to clean the Warminster War Memorial.

They had been recommended by officers to accept a £4,400 plus VAT quotation from specialist contractors Minerva.

Councillors said they wanted to investigate its condition more thoroughly before making a final decision.

Officers were instructed to investigate the cost of cleaning the war memorial at Portway Corner following the Remembrance service last November.

The monument and surrounding paving was last cleaned in 2013 by Minerva, a specialist stone conservation company approved by Historic England.

Officers said: "This is specialised work and it is important that it is carried out by a contractor with specialised skills."

Councillors are now expected to make a decision at the next full council meeting on March 16.