New and improved play areas for North Somerset

2:49pm - 11 August 2022
A photo of the children's play area at Portishead Lake Grounds taken in July 2022.

North Somerset Council has announced the locations of new and existing play areas set to benefit from investment in children and young people.

The Improving Play Spaces Fund, which launched in April, was created to offer £250,000 in capital matched funding of up to 50 per cent of the project cost. This was over and above the £300,000 annual capital funding budget allocated to improve the council’s own play areas.

27 applications were received from town and parish councils, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and community groups. The council has increased its investment in order to offer grants to all 23 projects that met assessment criteria. The projects include creating two new play areas in Clevedon and Failand.

The 23 Improving Place Spaces Fund projects are:

  1. Abbots Leigh Parish Council – Village Field –£2,138
  2. Backwell Parish Council – Downside Play Area – £3,000
  3. Backwell Playing Fields Charity – £10,000
  4. Banwell Parish Council – Riverside – £19,644
  5. Bleadon Parish Council – Play Area at Coronation Hall – £5,000
  6. Churchill Parish Council – Ladymead Lane – £9,335
  7. New play area: Clevedon Business Improvement District – Alexandra Gardens – £11,000
  8. Clevedon Town Council – Teignmouth Road, Strode Road, Kenn Moor Drive – £20,000
  9. Congresbury Parish Council – King George V Field – £20,000
  10. Dundry Parish Council – Recreation Ground Play Area – £10,000
  11. Flax Bourton Parish Council – Farleigh Green – £3,219
  12. Hutton Parish Council – Elmhurst Play Area – £20,000
  13. Locking Moor Residents – three play areas on the Flowerdown housing estate in Locking – £7,000
  14. Long Ashton Parish Council – Gardeners Walk – £2,450
  15. Portbury Parish Council – Portbury Play – £15,000
  16. Portishead Town Council – Portishead Lake Grounds – £25,000
  17. St George’s Parish Council – Milestone Court – £20,000
  18. Tickenham Village Field Management Committee – £4,470
  19. Weston-super-Mare Town Council – Castle Batch, Worle – £20,000
  20. Winford Parish Council – Vee Lane – £2,051
  21. Winscombe and Sandford Parish Council – War Memorial Recreation Ground – £10,000
  22. New play area: Wraxall and Failand Parish Council – Failand Village Hall – £25,000
  23. Wrington Parish Council – Recreation Field – £20,000.

The awards will fund projects of different sizes – from one piece of equipment to multiple pieces – all of which will make play facilities more accessible and inclusive. All projects will be delivered by the end of March 2023.

Councillor Ash Cartman, North Somerset Council’s executive member for corporate services, said: “It’s great to see our budget promise to back children and young people progressing with the allocation of these awards. This is part of a £1m investment over the next few years to create spaces for toddlers to teenagers to get outside and have a healthy upbringing.

“We’d like to thank all of the town and parish councils, BIDs and community groups for the enthusiasm they’ve shown to get involved. We were impressed with the quality of the schemes and I’m delighted to say that we managed to increase the budget in order to accept all of the projects which met the assessment criteria.

“This project is a great example of us working in partnership with local communities and sharing resources to improve facilities for our residents.”

Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council's executive member for neighbourhoods and community services, said: “North Somerset is a great place to grow-up but we want to make childhood fairer for everyone, especially those who are vulnerable, disadvantaged, or have special educational or additional needs. I’m delighted we’re delivering this funding to develop and create new play areas, while making them more accessible and inclusive.

“Alongside this investment, we’re renewing our efforts and commitment to tackle antisocial behaviour in our parks and play areas. However, we need the support of the community to enable the council and police to take prompt and robust action against such behaviour."

Residents are urged to ‘say something if they see something’ by reporting all incidents of antisocial behaviour. This can be done by calling the police on 101 or by completing a short form online at www.saferstrongerns.co.uk/reportasb. Always call 999 in an emergency.

More information about the scheme is available on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/improvingplayspacesfund.