Canvassing ideas for new play area
‘This is a big area and great for the village. It would also bring people into the area.’
A PARISH council has agreed to go ahead with the first steps towards upgrading its playground facilities for young people.
At the last meeting of Waterhouses Parish Council members agreed to make residents aware of the start of an evaluation for the playground which is located off Waterfall Lane in Waterhouses.
On behalf of the council, parish clerk Chris Hinton, said: “The council wants to see if a project should be launched to improve the facility, by asking the parishioners what improvements they would ideally like to see, before evaluating if such changes could be funded.
“They would like to gather the views of all potential users, parents, grandparents and local institutions and groups such as schools and nurseries.
“The council will canvass as many parishioners as possible to get this feedback before assessing the potential cost.
“If the residents would like to see a project take place the council would then seek to form a small subcommittee to steer the project. This would involve some members of the community being invited to work on the scheme.”
Speaking at a previous meeting councillor, Bob Turner said: “We have an aspiration to upgrade the area. We can start a consultation and also look at what age groups use the facilities.”
Councillor Paul Clews said the council could look at some volunteers to take on the project.
He said: “Through the parish council are there volunteers who would spearhead the project?
“This is a big area and great for the village. It would also bring people into the area.”
Meanwhile, work on a project costing more than £50,000 refurbishing in another Moorlands village is progressing well.
Proposals were put forward to regenerate Kingsley Recreation Ground more than two years ago.
The project is being spearheaded by residents Mandie Corby, Lucy Hughes and Louise Wainwright with the support of Kingsley Parish Council which owns the land.
During the last two years the three women have been working to raise the money through various organisations and funders.
The playground design will include a zip wire in addition to a range of equipment catering for a wide range of ages and abilities: three different swing types, small and large climbing frames with slides, two springers, a spinner, an obstacle course and a seesaw.
The design has a woodland adventure feel, using hard-wearing Robinia wood in simple natural structures to blend in with the beautiful surroundings.
Several new seating elements for the park along with improving access to the recreation ground and installing new goalposts on the adjacent football pitch are also included in the project.