City councillors have agreed the next steps to improve play provision across Worcester.
The Worcester Play Plan was approved by councillors last year and set outs out Worcester City Council’s commitment to investment in outdoor spaces for children and young people over the next 10 years.
Councillors sitting on the Place and Economic Development Committee agreed priority projects for the next phase, at their meeting on Monday night.
They agreed for Perdiswell to be considered as the preferred site for a destination play site based around a pump track, subject to a public consultation.
Consultation is also to begin to consider how play and open spaces can be improved in the St Peter’s ward using money collected for the Taylors Lane housing development.
The Worcester Play Plan identified the need for improved play facilities at Cornmeadow Lane in the Claines ward and Weyburn Close in the Lower Wick and Pitmaston ward. The Council will be engaging with the communities in these areas to discuss the design of new play facilities.
Funding of £663,536 has already been secured for the Play Plan projects from housing developers through Section 106 agreements. An additional £400,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy was approved by the Place and Economic Development Committee in July last year.
Worcester City Council’s Place & Economic Development Committee Vice-chair, Hannah Cooper said: “The Play Plan is built around the concept that play provision should be available for a range of age groups and at different locations in the city, and that we provide play equipment to suit a wide range of needs and interests.
“The Plan attempts to plug the gaps in play provision across the city by finding locations which need investment.
“Consulting and engaging with people living in the area and those who will be potentially using the play facilities is important to help us design individual projects.”
Since its introduction the plan has resulted in a new youth shelter and refurbishment of the multi-use games area at Horizon Hub on Midland Road.
A Cotswold Way ‘Play on the Way project’ is due to be completed next year along the public footpath between Cranham Drive and Chedworth Close.
Draft plans include using natural materials for play, such as boulders for climbing through, stepping stones, a climbing frame and slide.
Battenhall Park Pump Track is due to be built and opened later this year – the first of its kind in Worcester.
Work has also included the replacement and improving of equipment at existing parks.
