PARISH councillors in Withycombe are celebrating the culmination of a fight for new facilities that has taken more than three decades to achieve.

The council has just signed an agreement with the Crown Estate to lease part of Titholes Orchard for a car park and play area for the parish.

Vice-chairman Cllr Jean Humber, who signed the lease with chairman Cllr John Fulwell, said the agreement was the result of 32 years' effort on the part of various groups in the parish.

"The council, under the chairmanship of Keith Arscott, took up the challenge in 2003 and this signing is the result of their persistence over the last 11 years," she said.

Cllr Humber said anyone who had visited Withycombe or attended a function in its Memorial Hall would know of the parking problems and appreciate the desperate need for a car park.

"And those who believe a children's play area is not needed might be surprised at the number of young children now living in this small parish - at least 14 under nine and eight under 15."

However, there is still one more hurdle to overcome before the new facilities became a reality.

The Crown Estate now has to find a developer for the front of the site where three houses will be built - two open-market properties and one affordable home.

"Hopefully, this is the beginning of the end," said Cllr Humber.