'Wish list' will help to shape new play area

FAMILIES have been giving their views on a £55,000 play area.

The new facility in Wood Park, Alsager, is part of the Government's Play Builder scheme, which aims to encourage children to play independently in a safe place.

STUCK IN: Erin Tyman, aged four, puts stickers on the things she likes in the playground scenes during the consultation for Wood Park, below. Picture: Malcolm Hart

On Saturday, residents were invited to Radway Social Club, in Longview Avenue, to say what kind of equipment they would like to see installed.

The play area, which is being built on a slope in the park next to the football club, is expected to be finished by October half-term.

Lindsay Lewis, from Alsager Partnership, which helped to secure funding from Cheshire East Council, said projects in other areas had included zip wires, climbing walls, sand and tunnels.

She said representatives would be going into schools to ask pupils their opinions, which would be used to draw up a "wish list" and fed back to Cheshire East Council.

The mother-of-two, of Harpur Crescent, Alsager, said: "What the final playground will look like very much depends on what the children would like to see in place.

"Play Builder as a concept is fairly new. It is about challenging local authorities to think differently about play and saying risk is okay. It is also about creating a natural playground setting."

Alsager Partnership, which includes the town council, Cheshire East Council and residents and businesses in Alsager, was granted £45,000 funding from the scheme on the condition the playground was targeted at eight- to 13-year-olds.

Another £10,000 came from the town council and the partnership was seeking residents' views on how to use this money, which could include facilities for younger children and teenagers. Vera Hodnett, aged 88, of Moorhouse Avenue, Alsager, said she thought the new park would be appreciated by her 31 great-grandchildren.

She said: "I think this area has been neglected for some time. It's great they're giving the kids something to do."

Trevor Heath, aged 66, of Cresswellshaw Road, Alsager, welcomed the new facility but hoped it would be maintained properly.

He said: "There used to be a playground in the park 30 years ago and it was vandalised."

Councillor Colin Burgess said: "It will benefit people on both the Radway and Lynam estates."

Sam Newton, from Plus Dane Group, formerly Dane Housing, holds events for youngsters at the park.

He said: "We hope to use this play area for some of our events, such as sports days."