NAILSWORTH'S King George V playing field is being redesigned and a public consultation will take place next Saturday.

The town council will work with Nailsworth-based architectural company Austin Design Works, to develop ideas into an inviting, natural park.

A consultation with the community will take place on Saturday, July 22 from 9am until 1pm outside Nailsworth library.

The park, known as the extension field lies at the bottom of a wooded valley and has beautiful views towards the town and up to Minchinhampton Common, but it suffers from poor drainage which makes it difficult to use.

Nailsworth Town Council hopes to benefit both people and wildlife and make an interesting park for all ages.

Cllr Jonathan Duckworth, Mayor of Nailsworth, said: "We'd like to develop an area for all ages, somewhere they can relax and soak up the lovely valley atmosphere.

"We have plenty of play areas in the town and this is an opportunity to create a natural space for all ages to unwind."

Pictures of suggested features and designs will be shown next weekend, and the public will be asked which they like the most.

Seven proposals were put forward to Nailsworth Town Council earlier this year.

Along with input from the public, members decided on the submission from Austin Design Works in a meeting at the end of June.

Several projects the company designed have opened this year; the redesign of Horsley playground in April, the revamp of St Michael’s Bistro in Painswick and the £370,000 building for Minchinhampton rugby club opened by Princess Anne in March.

Director of Austin Desing, Rachael Emous-Austin said: "We are delighted to be working with our town council and local community on this project.

"Together we will explore ways to connect the Extension Field to the rest of the site, looking at how to make better use of it and the many opportunities for people to get  involved in the project.

"Following our recent successful delivery of community projects at Stroud’s Museum in The Park and Horsley Play Project we will draw on our experience to ensure a successful outcome."

A final design will be developed which needs to be costed before applying for grant funding.

To do this they will need to ask the public what they would like.

The council would like to get resident’s opinions before the start of the summer holidays.

Also Austin Design wants to start developing the final design, so a consultation is needed soon.

At a meeting of the council’s environment committee on Tuesday, July 4, it was decided the consultation will take place outside Nailsworth library on Saturday, July 22 from 9am to 1pm, aimed to coincide with the Farmers' Market.

The plans will be put on the council website with an online survey form as before.