CONSTRUCTION work at the highly anticipated Melksham community campus could soon begin, after a final round of funding was released for the leisure project.

A further £3m has been approved, taking the total poured into the project to £20.11m.

As well as the cash, Wiltshire Council approved plans to commit £7m into plans for community services at Melksham House.

Inside Melksham House the authority want to create 16 Supported Living units, a residential care home for children aged 10 - 18 and a community resource centre.

Cabinet member for leisure. Allison Bucknell said it was an exciting proposal for the town and added:"It is an incredibly positive move for Melksham, which comes with a price tag."

Plans for the campus were first made in December 2011, but high estimated costs meant the plans did not progress.

In 2017 plans came back before the council to build a six lane swimming pool, squash courts,gym, library, cafe, children's centre and GP surgery.

However no GP surgery was found to move into the site. This was removed from plans alongside the children's centre, squash courts and two of the proposed four tennis courts.

The GP site had been proposed to go into Melksham House, and so a new use had to be found.

Historic England stated that a new use had to be found for the Grade II listed building, before it would give approval to the whole campus project.

Now the plans have been revealed with a £7m pricetag, up £5m from initial estimates. A business case for Melksham House is expected at the end of this year.

Mayor of Melksham Jon Hubbard said people want to see action.

He said: "I remember the excitement for the campus before the 2013 local elections, maybe we will make it before the 2025 elections, I don’t think for 2021.

"Please can we just get on with this?

"These new proposals are welcome."

Johnathon Seed, chairman of the Area Board said: "Thank you for bringing bring back as a recommendation to cabinet so quickly but, lets now get on with this."

Sport England has committed grant funding of a contribution of £1.6m to the project.