A COMMUNITY garden with allotments, play areas for children and a multi-games area for young people could soon come to life as the council looks to lease an Alloa park to locals.

Councillors on the Place Committee, last Thursday, November 8, heard officers will start discussions with the Wimpy Park Community Group, who last year got together to redevelop the once popular area in the Mar Policies, on a long-term lease.

Elected members applauded the plans as they noted the progress made.

Officers tabling the documents at the chamber in Kilncraigs highlighted the park has now become a "vital community resource" and that the group has created a significant business plan.

The underlying aim is to "provide a safe place for families to relax and enjoy the outdoors together" with opportunities to learn new skills in the community garden.

The plan added: "The heritage playground will use play structures designed around key historical elements from the area to teach children about the history of the Bowmar area and provide them with a sense of belonging and ownership."

Hopes are to keep bringing the community together through a series of annual events and activities.

Funds for the yearly lease and development of the park will be raised in a variety of ways, including subscriptions, entrance fees to events, grants from a number of organisations and donations.

The plans were lauded all around the table during the debate last week.

Proposing the paper committee chair Cllr Craig Holden said they were "very comprehensive" with a lot of work behind it.

Seconding, SNP colleague Cllr Donald Balsillie hailed it as a "very professional" business plan, added he was confident the park will be a "real asset" and wished the group well.

Labour's Cllr Kenny Earle said the group was "very committed", adding: "This is one of the most comprehensive business plans I've ever seen."

Conservative Cllr Martha Benny remarked the business plan was "absolutely brilliant" and said any initiative that helps youngsters get outside and stay active has to be applauded.

Officially known as the Walled Garden in the Bowmar area, the park of "historical significance" used to be a part of the Mar Estate.

Following the demolition of Mar House in the 1950s, it was passed to the then Alloa Town Council which managed it into the early 1980s, but it then became overgrown.

Cllr Bill Mason, leader of the Conservatives, was keen to highlight the heritage and history at the site and wondered if even more could have been done in the area, had Mar House not been demolished all those years ago.

In his closing remarks, committee chair Cllr Holden explained the level of commitment from locals has been "extensive and substantial".