Play time is about to get a whole lot better
Renovation work to resume on six outdoor parks
Improvement work on six parks as chosen by the Stirling public is now underway after being delayed by the Covid-19 crisis.
Last year, residents in the seven electoral wards voted on how to spend £700,000 (£100,000 in each ward) on infrastructure and environmental projects.
Citizens in the Stirling West, East, Bannockburn and Dunblane and Bridge of Allan wards decided to allocate some of their budget to the following projects: improve Polmaise Play Park (Fallin) £45k; upgrade Drypow Play Park (Fallin) £45k; improve the play park next to Crawford Hall (Braehead) £35k; upgrade the play park in Afton Court (Braehead) £35k; improve play equipment at Beechwood Park (St Ninians) – £25k; outdoor gym at Beechwood Park (St Ninians) £25k and outdoor gym Laighills Park (Dunblane) £30k.
The new equipment was due to be installed at the various sites between March and June, starting with Polmaise Play Park, but work was put on hold when the lockdown came into force.
With the slight easing of restrictions under the Scottish Government’s phased roadmap, work has now resumed at Polmaise and all seven projects are scheduled for completion by mid-September.
The winning project in Stirling North ward to improve Cambuskenneth Play Park (£35k) should follow later in 2020/21 following agreement of a lease.
The votes were cast via Your Stirling: You Decide, Stirling Council’s version of participatory budgeting which gives people a direct say in how a portion of the local authority’s budget is spent.
While councillors from all parties had praised the efforts of officials this year to give all communities and projects a fair shot at acquiring some cash, some still felt the system could be seen as overly complex, and in some wards projects from just one community received the whole allocation. Finance and economy convener Councillor Margaret Brisley said this week: “It’s fantastic we have been able to restart this programme of park improvements, another welcome sign we are hopefully emerging from this unparalleled crisis.
“Your Stirling: You Decide was a landmark initiative for the council, and I’m sure there will be a special sense of satisfaction among these communities as their ideas become reality and families can safely enjoy the new facilities over the coming weeks and months.”
More information on the winning projects of Your Stirling: You Decide is available on the Stirling Council website.
I’m sure there will be a special sense of satisfaction among these communities as their ideas become a reality