Roundway Parish Council is proposing to install fitness equipment in a park and wants to hear the views of residents.

The parish council has been told by Wiltshire Council that £20,000 is available to spend on the project.

The money has come from the developers building the houses next to Quakers Walk, off London Road, through the 106 agreement that puts an obligation on developers to provide funding for local amenities.

The parish council is planning to put the equipment in Le Marchant park, in Kingsmanor Wharf.

Parish council vice-chairman Rick Rowland said: “We had been talking to Devizes Community Area Partnership about the idea of having an outdoor gym but we were thinking it would be later next year until we got a source of money. We didn’t want to put up the precept to pay for it, we had to find external funding for it. When Wiltshire Council told us they had funding for it, it felt like Christmas.

“The minute we found out this money was available, we focused very quickly on progressing the project. To get the money we have to meet two conditions – we have to spend it by the end of the financial year and we have to consult with the public to make sure it is what they want.”

The parish council has gone out to tender for costings for the equipment, which will be similar to what is in Hillworth Park, and a presentation will be given at the annual parish meeting on March 18 where residents will be asked for their views after which the council will make a decision on whether to go ahead with it.

Coun Rowland said: “The fitness equipment would be used by ten-year-olds up to pensioners. Devizes does have an obesity problem and anything we can do to encourage people to get fitter has to be a good thing. We would like as many people as possible to turn up to the annual meeting.”

The site where the equipment is proposed to be is behind the former barracks, where there is already a children’s play area. The land used to be a cricket pitch thought to be be used by soldiers based at Le Marchant Barracks.

The annual meeting is on March 18 at Cornerstones community centre, Brickley Lane, at 7pm. Alternatively you can give your views on the council’s website at www.roundwayparishcouncil.gov.uk