DISABILITY advocates in Salisbury are excited to unveil a revamped play area now complete with equipment wheelchair users can enjoy.

Among the new features at the Pinewood Way park in Bemerton Heath are a wheelchair accessible roundabout, wheelchair accessible seesaw and accessible play panels, as well as new, flat surfacing.

The improvements, designed by Caloo Ltd, cost just over £40,000 and were funded from the city council’s (SCC) 2025/26 accessibility budget.

Bemerton Heath ward councillors, SCC officers and members of the Disability Interest Group of Salisbury (DIGS) collaborated on the project, with SCC parks officer Mark Annetts and DIGS CEO Kez Adey taking the lead.

On Monday (January 12), they came together for the official opening and to try out the new equipment.

Kez said: “I’m really happy with the park. We can’t wait to see it get used by everybody. It’s great that it is all inclusive and that everybody is able to play here.

“The work that SCC has done is fantastic and I can’t fault them…For us, it’s a massive achievement. We are excited and…we’re proud of it…We love it.”

The grand unveiling!

SCC invited residents to provide feedback on proposed improvements in September 2025.

Construction began last December, with work completed in early January.

The improvements come after a new tarmac path was installed at the Pinewood Way Open Space in July 2024, allowing wheelchair access to the green and play area.

DIGS members try new equipment

Cllr Caroline Corbin for Bemerton Heath ward said: “It is great to have this improvement because it means that people of all abilities can interact and play together.

“And it’s fun, even the adults that were here today from DIGS have had some great fun. It’s brilliant.”

Cllr Richard Johnson, fellow member for the Bemerton Heath Ward and member of the environment committee, said: “As a parent of a nearly seven-year-old, I know how vital play parks are, but my work with DIGS has highlighted just how crucial it is all children have the chance to play.

“This fantastic refurbishment shows SCC is listening to the lived experiences of disabled residents and delivering what our community truly needs.

“It’s a perfect example of our vision for a more thoughtful, inclusive, and community-focused Salisbury.”

Accessible play panels

On Monday, January 12, full council approved an increase to take the accessibility budget to £50,000 for 2026/27.