Playground dreams progress slowly but surely

HOPES remain high that Morval Parish Council can obtain funding for the play area at Farriers Way through a share of money from the Government’s £7.6-million Community Levelling Up Grant fund.

A bid for £200,000 is currently being processed while the lease for taking over the land from the Harding family is currently with their solicitors.

Richard Liddle, of Lydcott Glamping, Widegates, whose knowledge and experience in playground design and provision has been a real blessing for the council, has warned that playing ground equipment costs will rise by about six per cent in the year ahead.

The council will also need about 200 tons of topsoil for the 800-sq.m play area site, which will eventually benefit all the young people in Morval parish, but the cost of testing that material – to make sure that the earth is free of contaminates, including heavy metals like arsenic, and is suitable for use on a children’s play area – will come at a price. 

One estimate put the figure at £5,000 but the council is still making further inquiries in consultation with Mr Liddle and his contacts who believe that a lower price may be achievable.

Meanwhile the council is still undecided about what to do with the field it owns adjoining Trenode Church of England Primary school, and is awaiting feedback from agricultural land agents in Liskeard.

An open parish meeting last July yielded a number of possible uses for the steep-sided parcel of land and ideas mentioned have included allotments, a mini-football pitch for youngsters, a nature reserve, dog-walking area, walkways with benches, a hide for bird watchers, a parish picnic field, school car park and even as a site for a future community hall.

The council bought the field for about £8,000 several years ago and, since letting it out in past years, has received an annual income of a little over £1,000 an annum.

Like land everywhere, its value probably increases year-on-year and one un-tested estimate has put its current value at around £140,000.

Said council vice-chairman John Collings: “The council does not have bottom-less pockets of cash to spend on local projects, no matter how desirable they might seem. Currently, the Farriers Way play area has the best chance of materialising because of the potential of Government grants.”

18th January 2024