Update: A previous version of this article stated Kenilworth Town Council members had voted on the motions. This was inaccurate as the meeting (Kenilworth Town Assembly) is attended by local electors - and was attended by 39 local residents.

Locals have backed a call to the district council to make a piece of land next to Abbey Fields available to the public.

At last month's town assembly - an annual public meeting - Kenilworth residents voted in favour of asking Warwick District Council (WDC) to find a use for 'the Paddocks' that benefits the local community.

The land, which is sandwiched between Finham Brook and Castle Road, was reportedly purchased by Kenilworth Urban District Council in 1974 but has not been incorporated into Abbey Fields.

A motion presented to the assembly said the land is now managed by WDC and called for pressure to be put on the authority to make the land accessible to the public.

"For the last 50 years, WDC have failed to incorporate the Paddocks into Abbey Fields, despite the fact that KUDC purchased it for this exact purpose," the motion said.

"The Paddocks is a piece of public land, which was purchased for the benefit of the public, but the public have been denied access to this land.

"There are various ways in which the Paddocks could be opened to the public, such as plain parkland, woodland planting,meadow, community orchard etc."

At the meeting last month attendees voted in favour of the idea the land should be brought into Abbey Fields, and agreed an archaeological study should be considered before the land is brought into public use.

However, voters were split over the idea of turning it into an orchard, and voted against supporting the idea.

The Mayor of Kenilworth will now write to WDC to ask whether the Paddocks can be put to public use.

An update is expected at the next Kenilworth Town Council meeting.