AN AWARD-winning pub landlord says he is being made a scapegoat in a village row over a children's play park.

Martin Still, who runs The Pear Tree in Whitley, near Melksham, says his comments about a village play park, earmarked for a field next to his pub, have been misinterpreted, making him look like a killjoy.

Parish councillors reacted with disbelief to news that Mr Still had objected to the park plans because he believed the noise of playing children would ruin the pub's quiet atmosphere.

But Mr Still says he would welcome a low-key village park next to his premises and was never told full details of the parish council's plans.

The row erupted when members of Melksham Without Parish Council wrote to the owners of Neston Park Estate, inquiring about purchasing the site to build a play park.

A letter from estate representatives Cluttons, based in Bath, reacted coolly to the proposal and said Mr Still expressed concern the park would "impinge on the quiet enjoyment of their customers".

Dozens of children in the village have to walk more than two miles along a busy road to reach the nearest park in Shaw.

Parish councillors have been trying to find a site for 18 months and believed the site near the pub was ideal.

Mr Still, 36, who has been running the pub with his wife Debbie for four years, said he still wanted to know more about the project.

He said: "I didn't know much about it. I wasn't sure if it was playing fields or football pitches.

"I don't see a problem of it is a low-key play area. I have three kids so it would be good.

"We were looking to rent a house on the estate and as part of the conversation I mentioned the park and the fact I didn't know anything about the plans.

"I would be a bit disappointed to be blamed for it all."

Christopher Sparrow, of Cluttons, said they were also unclear of how big the park would be.

He said: "The estate were naturally concerned about the impact of playing field proposals on the Pear Tree Inn.

"We now understand it is no longer an issue. We are not the only landowners in the village but I know we have to be on the list of possible sites."

Parish councillor Terry Chivers said people were disappointed at hearing the recent plans had been dismissed.

He said: "It is very difficult to find an area to build the park as it is quite a built-up village. The nearest one is Shaw, which is quite far away."

Mother Trudy Fennell, 31, of Eden Grove said her two children aged nine and 13, had nowhere to go.

She said: "My kids were playing football in the street but have been told to stop. I think the site next to the Pear Tree would be ideal.

"When you have a group of kids with nothing to do it can lead to trouble on the estate and it gets quite depressing for them."