PLAYING field campaigners in Chippenham are celebrating a victory in establishing the extent of the town's playing field shortfall.

A storm of controversy greeted a playing pitch strategy commissioned by North Wiltshire District Council from consultants PMP.

The new strategy calculated Chippenham was short of around 20 acres of playing field space while the earlier North Wiltshire Open Space Strategy set the shortfall at nearly 50 acres.

FC Chippenham Youth and Give Over Action for Leisure chairman Arnie Highmore, and Chippenham Town Council's playing fields working party complained the new strategy was full of errors and inconsistences.

They also highlighted the need to reconsider the Chippenham catchment area, as the new strategy includes village pitches even though they could be too far for Chippenham youngsters to reach on foot or bicycle.

But members of the district council's Chippenham area committee agreed on Monday to consider needs of the urban area of Chippenham separately.

"It's been a long battle," said Coun Ian Bridges, of the town council's playing fields working party.

"I'm delighted the officers have recognised the need to be flexible. We will have a document that suits the needs of the town. But we will still be keeping an eye on its progress."

The draft playing pitch strategy is part of the development of a new leisure plan.