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Melksham group wants to save Cooper Tires green space

BBC The entrance to Cooper Tires - an old factory building, with a curved sign over the entrancewayBBC
The long-standing company in Melksham is closing and selling it's site.

A new community group is campaigning to preserve land being sold by a closing tyre company.

Cooper Tires is closing after being in Melksham for decades, which means it is selling its site at auction in January.

The Melksham Green Space group has been formed to rescue the section which is green space by the river.

Councillor Jennie Westbrook said "this is the land we played on as children and we want to preserve it."

Residents are concerned that the near 40 acres alongside the river - which does not have the factory - could be redeveloped.

Three people standing in front of the land in winter coats - one wearing a thick colourful scarf. The land is showing it is winter, with leaves off the trees and the field bare.
Councillor Jennie Westbrook, Ian Cardy and Nigel Benham - part of the group that started in the pub

"It is a vital piece of land in Melksham" Ms Westbrook added.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire, she explained "No one is denying that the factory side is a brownfield site. That space should be redeveloped and turned into something amazing for our community."

Ian Cardy was one of the first to form the group: "We started this idea with three people in a pub."

"Our important point is the biodiversity gain. Biodiversity is having a very bad time in Britain."

Meanwhile, Nigel Benham has lived in the town for over 30 years: "Cooper tires have been here for 130 years. It would be a nice lasting legacy to bequeath it to Melksham town."

Soggy looking land in Winter - grey sky, trees with no leaves.
The land runs alongside the River Avon and is well-known by Melksham residents.

Ms Westbrook told the BBC that they are working to see "what is the viable option for the future."

She claimed Cooper Tires told her they are willing to sell the land and factory separately.

"We're in the middle of a climate emergency and losing our green space is just not something we want."

With the land going up for auction in January, the group said they want to hear from people through their online survey and the town's neighbourhood plan, which is also taking responses until 3 December.

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