Appeal to villagers to give views on play park project

Langley Park has few facilities for young children and teenagers but the EQUal Partnership, which works throughout the Esh ward, hopes to win funding for a play park on land next to the village sports and social club.

The partnership hopes to provide facilities for youngsters of all ages on the park, which will be named after the village's most famous son, the former England and Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson, who grew up playing cricket and football near the club.

The partnership needs to show grant-giving organisations, including the National Lottery, that it has broad support, and wants people to take part in a consultation.

It has sent copies of its plans to homes in Langley Park, Esh, Quebec and Ushaw, and will hold a consultation day on Saturday in The Institute, Church Street, between 11am and 12.30pm.

Trustee Jason Martin said: "The ambitious project aims to include a play area for young children, sports provision on a multiple-use games area and a skate-park, as well as other improvements for access and safety. In all, the project will cost around £500,000.

"In order to raise such a large sum of money, we really need the whole community of Langley Park and beyond to show their support for the scheme.

"This is why plans for the scheme have recently been posted through all doors in the villages.

"We are also holding a display event at the Church Street institute on Saturday, when we will be happy to explain the plans and take comments.

"There is a brief questionnaire on the back of the plans asking for comments and support.

"We would be grateful if people could complete and return these slips to either the Post Office, Londis or Reays newsagents - or bring them along on Saturday.

"This is the final major consultation, so we need to know that the plans meet the needs of the public and we need to be able to show to potential funders that the community is behind the project.''