Full News Report

25th September 2023

Council bids for £150,000 grant for Play Area provision

MORE than 20 people, some of them youngsters, attended Morval Parish Council’s open session at the Village Hall, Widegates (Saturday, September 23), to discuss the proposed play area at Farriers Way.

The council is in the process of applying for a grant of £150,000 from the Government’s £7.6-million ‘Levelling Up’ Fund but first has to demonstrate that the public have been fully consulted on what they would like to see within the play area.

The meeting heard that an 800-sq.m plot of land had been marked off at Farriers Way – the area can be clearly seen from the gateway, virtually opposite the Morview Road estate entrance, on the A387 road through Widegates village – and that a lease, drawn up to transfer use of the land from the Harding family to the parish council, was now with the council's legal advisors.

To get some appreciation of the size of the 40m x 20m plot, parents were told that the Seaton play area measured 30x15m and the one at Pensilva, behind Millennium House, was 50mx20m.

It was likely that there would be only one entrance to the play park and there was no provision on site for any car parking. 

While many people in Widegates village could easily walk to the play area, those from further afield would be using vehicles which would have to be left on the main A387 road.

While not particularly desirable, there was a ‘trying-to-make-a-positive-out-of-a-negative’ thought that, rather than causing a traffic hazard, these cars might contribute to road safety issues by restricting the amount of clear road through the village, where the 30-mph speed limit is regularly exceeded.

• SIGHT LINES: The 800-sq.m plot of land at Farriers Way, Widegates, on which the Parish Council hopes to create a Play Area
  

The play area would only be used by young people under parental supervision.

Some parents favoured an area for those youngsters who liked playing ball games but that could also restrict the amount of space available for other playground equipment.

When it came to what actual play equipment could be provided at Farriers Way, the suggestions were myriad, ranging from traditional slides and swings to zip wires, climbing walls and exercise units, as well as disability equipment and benches for parents.

Some also favoured a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) but Richard Liddle, of Lydcott Glamping, who has had considerable experience in playground design and provision, said that a full-sized MUGA would take up too much space, although a smaller one might be suitable, depending on what else was required.

He pointed out that there were hundreds of swings and roundabout-type options available on the market; thousands of climbing frames, and said that playground ‘fashion trends’ should also be taken into consideration.

Mike Willmott suggested that the parish council might liaise with other authorities that had provided playgrounds to see if there were points where they ‘went wrong, and would do things differently if repeating the exercise.’

Council chairman Andy Jackson thanked everyone for attending and – addressing criticisms that the meeting had not been sufficiently well advertised throughout the parish – he said that lessons had been learned and promised better communication in the future.

He also invited Richard Liddle to draw up a brief for, say, three play area options suitable for all age groups that could be further discussed at a later date.

The parish council has long wanted a play area in the parish but previous efforts have been thwarted for reasons of finance and land availability. 

A site is now available, and the council is keeping fingers crossed that its application for funding is successful, although by no means guaranteed.

But, in any event, a play area is unlikely to be provided overnight, given the time it takes to order, supply and install the necessary equipment.