New playground is part of plan for ‘fewer but bigger and better facilities’
AN aerial runway, net climbing unit and a rotating chair ‘simulator’ are among exciting new attractions earmarked for a Hyndburn park.
Plans have been drawn up by the council to install a new £115,000 children’s play area at Milnshaw Park in Accrington.
The project follows a multi-use games area (MUGA) which opened at the park in early 2016, costing around £100,000, and featuring football, basketball, rounders, cricket and abseiling facilities.
The new fenced play area will include a basket swing, sling shot, swings, net climbing unit and slide, aerial runway, rotating chair ‘simulator’ and a small train climbing unit with a slide for young children.
Coun Ken Moss, cabinet member for parks, said the council plans to focus funding on ‘major parks’ in the borough.
He said: “That’s one of the ones that’s really desperate for an upgrade. We have been working on it for a number of years now and we finally got the funding through.
“About 18 months ago we upgraded the MUGA there so this is the next phase of it. These things always take time and it’s a question of getting the funding in place. It’s all positive. Our aim in the long run is to concentrate funding on major parks in the borough and have fewer but bigger and better playing facilities. Once planning permission is in place then it shouldn’t take very long. We are looking for it to be completed certainly within the next few months.”
Ward councillor Paul Cox said he was ‘really chuffed’. He said: “Milnshaw Park has been without a proper play area for a generation. I’ve made it a priority to do something with the park. We got the MUGA last year, which was the initial step in project, and we are now onto the next phase.”
Planning documents submitted by Mark Pickup, of the council’s parks and open spaces department, said the play area will be aimed at children aged between one and 14 years old.
He said: “The area will be predominantly level and include seven items of play equipment manufactured to British Standards by several different playground equipment manufacturers.” The scheme also includes the installation of a green painted steel bench and a matching picnic table.