AN ENTHUSIASTIC group of residents are planning to improve their estate by creating a new play area for older children.

Parents and children from Highfields in Dursley have been working together on plans to turn a green space into a play area for all ages.

The idea came from local youngsters and they have been working hard on the plans, including going door-to-door to get the views of neighbours.

"The children have been really brilliant from the very start," said Ben Ward, a member of the residents group. "They have done a lot of work including building little models of their plans and doing surveys. There is nothing down this end of town for teenage children to go so we hope our plans will give them a nice place to play."

The group plan to put the play area on a piece of green land that belongs to Stroud District Council behind School Road.

They have already been given provisional permission to use the land by the district council and they are in talks with Dursley Town Council about whether they will take ownership and responsibility for the play area.

Cllr Clare Nelmes, who has been working with the group on the project, said: "The town council are really supportive of the work the residents have been doing in Highfields.

"We would welcome any improvements at that end of the town because there isn’t much for children up there.

"We are working with the group to help them any way we can. We have to look at the plans in more detail when they are done but at the moment we have given them our support for the project in principal."

The group recently received a grant of £1,000 from the Youth Opportunities fund to spend on gathering comments and drawing up plans.

The group are now at the stage of applying for grants from the Lottery and other various sources to pay for the park.

Mr Ward, added: "We really want to make the green a nice space for the whole community rather than just a play space, so we want some seating areas for people to relax in and we hope to keep it as natural as possible."