A PLAY park could be temporarily lost as part of a new £2 million flood defence scheme.

Wessex Water wants to build the tank underground at the New Road site.

But for the firm to put it in place, it needs to take down the Royal Wootton Bassett play area, although it will replace it when the work is complete.

The tank will take in any floodwater building up and release it into the river system.

Wessex first put the plans forward six months ago but they were rejected because the town council demanded the play park be replaced.

Coun Paul Heaphy explained said: “We will only allow it to happen if it replaces the play park and it agreed.

“In the original plans it wanted to close off the road and we rejected that because it would have been chaos.

“There wasn’t really an explanation about it but there are parts of roads that catch water more than others.

“This part of the road is at the bottom of a slope so it probably does catch there.

“A few residents were concerned because some people think it’s sewage work but it’s not.

"So as long as they do the job properly, there’s no need to be worried.”

Jonathan Bourne is the town clerk and he spoke about the next steps: “The council is due to consider this application on September 12.

"Any recommendations will be taken forward to Wiltshire Council and councillors will have to confirm the plans.”

Abbey Hine lives in the area and is not happy with the tank plan.

She said: “I really hope this doesn’t go ahead as it will destroy a lovely area.

“Why on earth does it need to be in the middle of so many houses?”

A Wessex Water spokesman said: “There is a history of flooding in the New Road area during periods of very heavy rainfall and this has been exacerbated by population growth in Royal Wootton Bassett in recent years.

“We have a combined sewer overflow, which is designed to prevent waste water entering homes and businesses. This is in urgent need of improvement.

“As part of our £2 million sewerage improvement scheme, we’re proposing to provide additional capacity by way of a large underground storage tank.

“This will reduce the risk of properties flooding.”