Council continues play area improvements

Archived press release

Date Published: 18/11/09

Aylesbury Vale District Council is continuing its work to improve opportunities for children and young people to access good quality and safe play spaces within their own communities.

Six local play areas have already been revamped across Aylesbury over the past two years and between now and March 2010 a further four will be improved.

During the past few months there has been consultation with local communities, including children, young people and residents’ associations, to decide how each play area should be developed.

The aim is to provide children and young people with imaginative play environments which promote outdoor play and benefit physical, social and cognitive development.

Play areas set for work during November and December include Haddington Way, Denby Walk and Waivers Way. The existing play areas will be removed and replaced with landscaped play areas incorporating wooden play equipment designed for two to 13 year-olds.

These are being developed thanks to £355,240 funding from the Department for Children, Schools, and Families Playbuilder Programme. Play areas in Haydon Hill, Meadowcroft and Simpson Place are set for improvement next year.

Work at Alfred Rose Park was recently completed as part of the Playbuilder project. A wooden climbing structure with nets has been installed to the delight of local park users.

The council is also installing a new play area in Carlton Close this month thanks to financial help from the Big Lottery Fund and the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust.

Councillor David Thompson, AVDC Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “The council’s work to improve play opportunities is benefiting communities across Aylesbury. Children and young people need to have somewhere to play with their friends in their own communities. The improvement work underway at the moment has been driven by children and young people from local communities with improvements to the play areas reflecting what they want.”

To keep up to date on the play improvement programme, visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/leisure-culture or call 01296 585228.