Hope is for summer opening

People living on the Southfields estate, in South End, have been extensively consulted on the development which, it is hoped, can be opened in time for summer at a total cost of almost £39,000.

The Southfields green project, as it became known, was launched following a decision by the town council three years ago to dismantle previous play area equipment installed in 1996 because it failed to meet modern safety standards.

To guide the development of the new play area the council set up as project committee involving householders and chaired by Coun Malcolm Young, the deputy mayor.

The committee has now learned that it is being offered a £16,000 grant towards the total cost from Living Spaces, run by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The balance will be met by the town council from a capital fund made possible with money from Persimmon Homes following completion of the fourth phase of the Southfields development.

The play area will be securely fenced to keep animals out and the safety surfacing will consist of plastic interlocking squares. Equipment will include climbing frames, slides and rope ladders for both younger and older children, a spring turtle and a seesaw and there will be a bench and a litter bin.

The grant from Living Spaces is due to be received on April 1 and Coun Young said it was hoped to start work as soon as possible after that.

He said: "It was very important that residents and children were consulted on the type of play equipment they wanted to see. There were quite a few meetings and we developed a business plan and worked towards it. We obtained quotes from three companies.

"The old equipment which would not meet safety standards was of wood but the new equipment will be in steel and plastic which is considered to be safer, harder wearing and better value for money.

"A lot of people put in a lot of hard work on the project and they deserve to be thanked for it."