Park plan fails to impress
Controversial plans for a £150,000 children’s play area were displayed in East Bridgford on Saturday.
The Park Renewal Group held a question and answer session in the WI hut on plans for Butts Field.
The plans show an area for babies and children up to the age of three, a play park for three to 11 year-olds, and a skate and bicycle adventure area for 11-16 year-olds.
They include a water feature, wooden decking and seating, wobble bridge, youth shelter, football goal, basketball ring, play tunnels, an outdoor classroom, sand pit, zip line, track for children learning to ride bicycles and obstacles for youngsters to practise cycling and skateboarding skills.
Among those who attended was Mrs Lynda Mason, of Millgate, who has three children Jack (11) William (9) and Christopher (4).
She said: “It is more like a landscaped eco-park than a children’s play area.
“I am really disappointed. At least 60% of the area is for older children who need to have skills such as cycling and skateboarding to use it.
“I am concerned there is no fence to stop dogs fouling and to keep younger children from wandering into other areas.”
Mrs Mason said one zip wire was not enough when 30 children from the after-school club would want to use it.
She said the surface was mostly grass, which would turn into a mudbath when it rained.
Mrs Mason suggested traditional play equipment already in place should be updated in addition to the provision of multi-activity climbing units.
A 13-year-old girl, who did not want to be named, said as she did not skateboard or cycle there was nothing there for her.
The chairman of the group, Clare van Loenen, said it had been hard work getting to this stage and appealed to residents at the event for their support.
She said 450 people were involved in consultation and people were positive about it being more open and natural and suitable for teenagers as well as young children.
Clare van Loenen said the idea was to make the play area more adventurous and to encourage youngsters to play together in a more imaginative way.
She said building work was due to start in the spring and it was hoped the play area would open in June.
A total of £150,000 in grants from the lottery, Wren, Veolia, and a contribution from the parish council is available for the project.
Cracknell was awarded the contract. It plans to offer part-time paid work placements for people to learn basic skills such as carpentry, brick-laying, horticulture, health and safety and tools and equipment.
Landscape architect Miss Dawn Purves, an associate at Cracknell, said the plans were not set in stone and residents’ views would be taken on board, although the funding requirements meant it needed to be finished by June.
