Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has pulled out of a town park wetland project as the regeneration of the site remains in jeopardy.
Plans to renovate the pond at the bottom of Trowbridge Park into a wetland area were first revealed by the town council in January 2025.
The ideas formed part of the town council's £850,000 plan, in partnership with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, to revamp Trowbridge Town Park which will eventually involve renovation of the park’s bandstand.
However, the town council has now revised the list of projects it intends to borrow money for, with the wetland project and bandstand renovation off the list.
Documents attached to an agenda outlining a business case the town council has devised identify the three projects the council will seek to set into motion across 2026/2027 financial year.
It wants to focus on improving the playpark at an estimated cost of £400,000; build padel courts – which the council says will allow them to generate income – at an estimated cost of £360,000; and redevelop the “deteriorated” mini-golf park, at an estimated cost of £235,000.
The town council said it fully intends to move forward with the project, but will look for the money from grants.
However, the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust – who had been a key partner in putting together the initial plans – has now told this paper that it is no longer involved at all in the project.
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Discussing the future of the project, leader of Trowbridge Town Council Cllr Mel Jacob reiterated the town council remains “totally committed” to pond redevelopment, but said the town council has “reached the point where we can’t go any further without funding.”
She continued: “The situation is that we are pursuing grants to try and progress this project. Our budget for full council on Monday (January 19) will propose that we focus on the play area, padel and mini golf in the park with a loan while pursuing grants for the pond and bandstand.
“We feel this will focus our limited funds on the areas that are most used by residents, and where grants would not be possible.
“We remain totally committed to redeveloping the pond area and making the whole park look good but need to find different ways to raise some funds to help us achieve all we need to do.”
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