A former landfill site around Kenilworth's recycling centre could be turned into a public space, if a new town council project is successful.

Town councillors last week unanimously backed a motion to see if the land around Cherry Orchard could be brought into community use.

The green space - which is owned by Warwickshire County Council (WCC) - is currently private land, although it is informally used by local dog walkers.

Cherry Orchard is one of a number of local spots which Cllr James Kennedy said could be made available for locals.

"There are a number of areas which are of indeterminate status, let's say," he said at the most recent Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) meeting. 

"The largest of these is what we refer to as Cherry Orchard, which is the area behind the recycling centre which was originally used as a brickworks and then it became a landfill site. 

"It is currently owned by the county council and in one place there is a big sign saying 'private, no entry, keep out'. 

"However, people use it to walk their dogs. 

"It is also very attractive because of its biodiversity and currently there are a number of bee orchids flowering there."

Cllr Kennedy received the support of members to start a dialogue with WCC to see what could be done to permit locals to use it more freely.

He said a number of residents in the area had already registered their interest in the project.

And while he said it would be a "complicated" process to get going, he said the project would be "for the benefit of the residents and for the wildlife".

Supporting the plans, Cllr Richard Dickson added: "The value of sites like this is not in financial terms, so much as it is in environmental terms and the long term of the town. 

"As the town over the next 10 years welcomes 5,000 maybe 6,000 new residents - to be able to say to them that this town council is initiating proceedings to look at how this can be brought into public use, is a very positive thing."

Councillors said this could be the start of a number of projects to bring more green spaces into public use.

A report will be presented to KTC at its meeting on 7 September proposing the next steps to take the project forward.