A NEW play park for Tavistock youngsters is on the cards, after enthusiastic residents packed a meeting at the Courtlands Road playgroup hut last week.

The meeting was called by the town council, which is taking on the empty field surrounded by houses on the north side of the town.

Rosie Keyhoe, Tavistock's deputy town clerk, said: 'I was thrilled, it was an extremely positive meeting.

'There were loads of people there with a really good mix of ages, one of the best cross-sections you could possibly have.

'The council is very aware that it is in an area set aside for play within a residential area, so it's really important everyone is squared up to it.'

Mrs Keyhoe said the council would provide insurance for the play area, deal with the health and safety aspects, make sure the grass was cut and a poop-scoop scheme in operation.

The council will also install basketball hoops with the appropriate hard surfaces.

Start-up funds of £7,000 are available to get the play area scheme off the ground.

Hilary Johnson, member of the town council's play parks scrutiny committee and chairman of West Devon Play Forum, was delighted with the meeting.

'Everyone was very enthusiastic about establishing a play park there.

'It's a lot of hard work but obviously the more that residents are involved, the better — then they have ownership of it. '

Mrs Johnson said she 'very much hoped' to keep involved with the project and would offer help, support and advice to the residents.

Sue Loomes, who lives in Courtlands Road, said a group of around 16 residents have indicated they would like to be involved in getting the play park off the ground.

A site meeting was held on Sunday, when residents decided gates, no dogs signs and a litter bin were the first priorities.

It was also decided an enclosed area for younger children should be situated at the top of the field, near the playgroup cabin. Residents felt the kick-about area and basketball posts should be situated as far as possible from people's back gardens.

Mrs Loomes said: 'I think things are coming together. There's a newsletter going out in the next couple of days and with that, a letter which people can forward to the town council listing our concerns about the field.

'The people who have expressed an interest in forming an action group are going to meet again in a month's time.'