NEW life is to be injected into a disused playpark after plans were revealed to transform into into a community sensory garden.

The Pier Road swing park has been out of use since the council's decision to close it in 2017.

However Fairlie Organic Growers have unveiled plans hope to give it a new purpose by utilising the space for young and old.

They hope to give it a lick of paint, partake in some tasteful planting and install some play equipment to turn it into an area suitable for both dementia sufferers and young children.

Work has began with a newly-added sandpit and colourful raised flowerbed already installed.

The growers' Malcolm MacQueen said: "The land is part of our lease and we received funding from the council's budget to make it useable again.

"We have already added the pit, which has been very popular and allows parents to keep an eye on their children in a safe space rather than take them down to the beach.

"We hope to make it a sensory garden with lost of interactive plants and flowers.

"We visited Hutton Park for ideas. They have a garden for their dementia patients and it is amazing. We would like to do something like that, but have it open to the public.

"There are raised beds at the area which we have already started painting in bright colours, we have found people apparently have problems seeing or differentiating the colour green so the idea would be to use bright loud colours to engage with them,

"The essence of what we want to do would be included in the planting. It would all be about bright colours and we could use the plants for experiences with touch, smell and even sound when they blow in the wind.

"It would give a full sensory experience, we would even have some edibles.

"We already have a few people with dementia that come down to the garden and for them it can be very relaxing and give a sense of routine. It would be great to offer more of that."

The decision to close the swingpark sparked an angry reaction from parents as it was the only facility available on the west side of the main road.

However the Organic Growers hope to resolve this with their own version in the space.

Malcolm added: "When the old school closed we received some of their benches and tables which we have put in the area.

"The tables come with snakes and ladders and games like that on top of them and we hope to get more of these.

"It will give the kids somewhere to play again, whether it be in the sandpit or by enjoying the tabletop games.

"We are still looking for more ideas of what to do with the rest of the space and we are open to any suggestions.

"It will be great to see people out there making the most of this valuable space again."