More play areas in Fylde will benefit from refurbishment this year as improvement works begin at Waddington Road, Hove Road and Raleigh Close.
The works will update play equipment and safety surfacing and will take approximately four weeks to complete. Some areas of the parks will be closed while improvements are underway, with signage and fencing in place.
Refurbishment of the play area at Lowther Gardens is also planned to for later in the year, with more details to follow closer to the time.
An audit conducted by Fylde Council’s Parks and Coastal Services team found several of the more frequently used children’s play areas in Fylde would greatly benefit from remedial and replacement works to equipment and surfacing. A subsequent community group consultation helped to lay out specifications for what each of the sites would most benefit from, with particular attention paid to improving accessibility, and to ensuring that health and safety requirements are met alongside community need.
Cllr Jayne Nixon, Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure & Culture, said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide exciting play areas for our children to enjoy. Improvement projects such as these ensure that our play areas will remain safe and accessible to all.”
Fylde Council have a qualified playground inspection and maintenance team who ensure the weekly inspection and upkeep of play sites, and the council holds an operating budget to carry out minor repairs to play equipment and surfacing. This budget covers the replacement of worn parts such as bolts, panels, and seats, as well as small repairs to rubber safety surfacing, fencing and furniture. However, the Council does not hold a budget for the full replacement of failing or decommissioned play equipment or safety surfacing.
Following the tendering process, a contract was awarded to ESP Scotland Ltd to perform the work, with a funding budget of £120,000 included within the Capital Programme for 2023/2024.
For more information about play areas and open spaces in Fylde, please visit our website: Parks and Open Spaces – Fylde Council
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