More than £260,000 is set to be invested in improving play facilities at a Stafford park. Rowley Park is the latest play space set to be transformed by Stafford Borough Council, following the unveiling of “destination parks” in locations including Wildwood and Stone’s Westbridge Park in recent years.
Funding for the project has come from developer contributions, known as Section 106 monies, as part of planning permissions secured in the area. Residents and park users will be given an opportunity to have their say on future facilities in a public consultation and a masterplan will be drawn up.
Now members of Stafford Borough Council have given the green light for the money to be spent.
Councillor Gillian Pardesi, cabinet member for leisure, said: “I’m delighted to announce this report, which is to consider the allocation of just under £266,000 of Section 106 funding towards the provision and enhancement of the play facilities at Rowley Park. Permission is being sought to spend monies, design a masterplan and procure the required project works following consultation.”
Ward councillor Doug Rouxel, who attended the cabinet meeting, said: “I’m very pleased to see this come forward. Thank you very much to Councillor Pardesi and the cabinet.”
A report to the cabinet said: “The play facilities at Rowley Park were provided in 1998 and have offered much needed facilities for the families of Rowley and other local wards. However, after 26 years, the site requires investment to bring it in line with our current main/destination park standard.
“A main/destination park would usually provide for a diverse range of ages and users, and subject to funding availability may include facilities such as toddler specific zones, junior zones, senior play opportunities, multi use games areas (MUGAs), natural play, walking routes (and) seating/picnic areas.
“The existing footprint of the play area is considered insufficient to provide the additional elements required for a full main/destination park. The current budget is also insufficient to fund all these elements.
“It is therefore proposed a long-term masterplan approach is taken and a full scheme including all desired elements are designed and consulted upon. The masterplan can then be implemented on a phased basis, as additional money becomes available.”
Concerns were raised about the current condition of play facilities at Rowley Park at a scrutiny committee meeting in late November. Councillor Ann Hobbs said: “That park is unsafe in many ways and it’s there for young children – I urge you to make it a priority.
“A lot of people have been complaining about the toddler park at Rowley Park. Equipment is broken and there is very old sand in there that apparently smells.
“People are worried about taking children in there. They don’t feel it’s safe.”
Representatives from Freedom Leisure, which runs leisure and cultural services on behalf of the authority, told the committee that they were trying to manage and mitigate the situation as much as possible. They had also invested in rebarking some areas and were working with the council on future development.
Joss Presland, the council’s head of operations, said: “It is the next park we are working on but Rowley is managed by Freedom (Leisure). It was handed over as part of the leisure contract some years ago, but in order to do what we want with the park we need to invest in it so we’re partnering with Freedom to do that.”
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