AN ELEVEN-year-old Dilton Marsh schoolgirl is campaigning to get a better play area for the village.
Angel Turner, a year 6 pupil from Dilton Marsh Primary School, has created a petition and collected hundreds of signatures in a single day. She has also enlisted the help of a playgound company and now has plans for the new park ready.
Angel started her campaign in June, after identifying a need for better play equipment in the village.
“I went to the park with my family and said to my mum and dad that we need a new park because it’s a bit run down,’” she said. “And then I just got on with it!” With the village and school fete coming up, Angel spotted a window of opportunity. “I made a petition on the computer and took it to the fete,” she explained. “Everyone thought it was a good idea.”
Angel then e-mailed a number of local companies, and a representative from Playdale Playgrounds Ltd. came from Melksham to discuss her plans. Angel now has two professionally produced colour posters of the playground plans ready to take to the parish council this week.
Angel’s father, Greg Turner said, “It’s all Angel’s doing – it’s nothing to do with me and my wife! She’s a little campaigner – she came up with it all off her own bat and she’s done a lot of work. She’s been on the computer looking at different park schemes and e-mailed different companies, and Playday was the first to come back to her.
“The parish council sent out a survey at one point and only got 18 responses – yet Angel managed to get around 600 signatures in one day.”
Angel has already taken her ideas to the parish council, who are looking into the options and have been in contact with Wiltshire Council for advice and to identify possible sources of funding.
