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This follows the council’s announcement last month (July) that £300,000 in capital funding has been allocated this year (2022-23) to improve the following play areas:
- Clevedon – Cherry Avenue and Esmond Grove – £115,000
- Nailsea – Scotch Horn/Millennium Park and Pound Lane – £115,000
- Weston-super-Mare – Plumley Park South – £70,000.
This investment is in addition to the £250,000 Improving Play Spaces Fund, which launched in April, providing capital matched funding for projects across the area.
The capital investment will be used to make improvements at the five parks including:
- repairing or replacing safety surfacing,
- replacing broken equipment and/or installing new equipment,
- repainting existing equipment, and
- repairing fencing where needed.
The consultation asks for families to comment on a range of play equipment which will appeal to all age ranges and abilities, including those children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council's executive member for neighbourhoods and community services, said: “This is the first of a five-year capital investment programme created to deliver a much-needed improvement in play areas. Ongoing budget cuts over the last few years has meant that we’ve seen little significant investment in our play areas, so we’re playing catch-up. We’ve assessed all our play areas and investment is being targeted where it’s needed most.
“I urge families that use the five parks we’re focussing to improve this year to take part in the consultation. We’re ready to listen and open to thoughts on our proposals – we want to make sure that our money is invested in the way that brings most benefit to local children and young people.”
To find out more and take part in the consultation by noon on Tuesday 11 October visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/play22.
All projects will be delivered by the end of March 2023.