‘Our forgotten play park’
It has a slide, two swings, a roundabout and a lonely duck. Now more than 200 people are campaigning for a 21stcenturyy playground. Will they succeed?
A CYNON Valley community has pleaded for an upgrade to their “forgotten” playground.
And the good news is, the council says they are likely to get one.
A total of 222 people have signed a petition for Cefnpennar’s playground to be upgraded, having seen other communities across Rhondda Cynon Taff getting new equipment.
Mountain Ash East councillor Pauline Jarman met with residents Hayley Jones, and her four-yearold daughter Kayla Peters, and Michelle Neale, with her seven-year-old son Deven Harrison.
Hayley and Michelle spent the school holiday collecting signatures in support of a new playground for residents in Cefnpennar and Cwmpennar
Now Coun Jarman will present it to RCT’s mayor Rhys Lewis at the full meeting of the council on Wednesday, September 28.
The petition reads: “We the undersigned residents of Cefnpennar and Cwmpennar are disap- pointed that our children’s playground located in The Avenue, Cefnpennar, has not been refurbished for many decades.
“This petition is seeking to highlight the need for the playground to be upgraded to 21st century standards and be more age-appropriate to cater for the leisure needs of the children in both villages.
“Our expectation is that the council will fund improvements in our playground at the latest in next year’s Capital Programme.”
Coun Jarman said: “Following a site visit at the playground in June, when it was revealed that Cefnpennar was not on this year’s list for improvements, the parents and grandparents at the site visit decided to raise the petition to advance their case.
“I had made representation on their behalf as well but was told there was no more money left in this year’s budget – but it will be looked at next year.
“At the site visit the council officer did arrange for us to have an extra park bench in the shade, but no equipment. Both mothers, Hayley and Michelle, recall their childhood in the village when they had so much enjoyment from this playground as an open space but that was almost 30 years ago.
“The community has always looked after it and it was never vandalised, but the equipment is very dated.
“Many of the signatories to the petition are young citizens. They wanted to make sure, with the help of their parents, that their voice is heard in this .campaign.
“Some equipment the children are now using is the same that their parents did – the playground has been forgotten.”
And a response by RCT council suggests the residents could get their wish.
A council spokesperson said: “Following representation made by local residents to the council leader, Coun Andrew Morgan, and cabinet member for environment, leisure and culture, Coun Ann Crimmings, the council can confirm that officers have already met with residents regarding the possible development of the Cefnpennar play area, and that investment in it is already being considered as part of next year’s capital invest- ment programme.
“By the end of 2016/17, the council will have invested £1.7m in approximately 50 new-and-improved play areas across the county borough as part of the RCT Invest programme.
“Improvements to additional play areas, such as Cefnpennar, will be considered next year as the three-year, £200m, RCT Invest programme continues.”