14-year Tittensor playground wait nearing an end
CHILDREN can look forward to having a playground in their village – for the first time for 14 years.
More than £20,000 has been set aside to create the new play area next to Tittensor Village Hall, in Winghouse Lane, Tittensor.
The original play area – which had been on land behind Bracken Close since the early 1970s – was removed in 1998 after being deemed a health hazard.
It was condemned because it was close to an electricity pylon, adjacent to the A34 and had a stream running through it.
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Borough Councillor David Price said: "The release of the money to pay for the play area has been approved.
"It now requires an application with details of the design and a change of use for the land.
"Health and safety regulations have changed a lot since the 1970s but for the children of the village it will be good."
Several locations have been considered for the replacement playground over the past 14 years.
But no site could be decided on until now.
Members of Stafford Borough Council's cabinet have this month approved funding for the new play area.
Swynnerton Parish Council is proposing to lease the land and apply for an additional £30,000 from Staffordshire Environmental Fund. It is hoped building work should be underway by March.
Villagers have welcomed news of the new play area.
Retired motor engineer Maurice Yates, of Tittensor, said: "I think it is a good idea to bring the play area back.
"I don't remember the original play area because it is on the other side of the village but I can't see why it hasn't gone ahead before."
The trustees of Tittensor Village Hall agreed in April to lease an area of land behind the village hall to the parish council to create the play area.
Stylist Laraine Robathan-Field, pictured below, of Winghouse Lane, said: "Anything which encourages children to play outdoors has to be welcomed in the village.
"Since moving here seven years ago I can't remember seeing an area for the children to play.
"So it is a good thing to hear about the development, especially as it is quite close to where I live."
The planned play area for Tittensor comes as Swynnerton Parish Council is also hoping to upgrade the current playground at Greenside, in Yarnfield.
The council has applied to Staffordshire Environmental Fund to help fund the improvements.
It comes as the parish council is in talks to take over the maintenance of the site from the borough council.
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