The play area in Poors Field is to get some new equipment in the coming weeks. The Parish Council has ordered a Spider Climber multi-play unit and a nest swing from Sutcliffe Play. This has only been made possible by the Parish Council setting a generous budget for new equipment and maintenance of existing equipment, together with a grant of nearly £9,500 from the Community Fund. We also wish to thank the Football Club and the Village Hall Trustees for their cooperation in this scheme. The Parish Council has also approved work to rectify several low-risk findings detailed in recent play area inspection reports.
The Spider Climber multi-play unit will be located where the zip wire used to be. It is aimed at children of primary school age. It has several linked activities such as a rope climb, a climbing net, monkey bars, slide bars and a fireman’s pole. The bark in the large bark pit will also be topped up to ensure an adequate depth of bark to meet current safety recommendations.
The nest swing will replace the worn-out double swing. It is designed to take several young children at once and for those with special needs. The safety surfacing underneath the swing will also be replaced.
It is anticipated that the installation of the new equipment will take place at the end of July or early August and it will necessitate closing the play area for about a week.
Sutcliffe Play is a Yorkshire-based, employee-owned company from whom we have purchased equipment in the past.
It is intended that this is the start of a rolling programme of improvements with further new equipment being provided in following years.
Hugh Gorton
Chair, Parish Council Environmental Committee