Great news for local youngsters as five year play area improvement plan agreed

Local parks including Benhall, Burrows, Caernarvon Park, Chalford Avenue, Chelt Walk (St Peter’s), Fairview, Honeybourne Line, Humpty Dumps play area (The Reddings), Springfields park, Swindon Village and Whaddon Recreation Ground are just a few of the sites in line for improvements, plus many more.

The work will vary in scale; some of it will be minor but necessary to ensure user safety whilst other work will be more substantial and include new equipment or picnic areas, new paths or surfacing. Many play areas will also benefit from inclusive and accessible play equipment so that all children can join the fun.

Improvements will be guided by suggestions and requests, where appropriate, from ward members, local residents and children. The council is interested to hear from anyone with an interest in their local play area and residents can get in touch by email at [email protected], telephone 01242 262626 and ask for the green space team. Results of the council’s play inspection reports and local knowledge of the area will also guide the work.

These improvements should begin before the end of the year and will form part of a continual annual works programme.

Councillor Chris Coleman, cabinet member for clean and green environment said: “This is very good news. We’re very fortunate to have such a large number of play areas in Cheltenham that are so widely spread across the borough.

“Providing safe and innovative play areas to encourage children and young people to socialise and exercise continues to be a key priority. I am pleased that we now have a five year plan to make sure that they’re all both inclusive and kept to a high standard.”

Notes: Funding for the programme is derived from three sources:

1. Council capital allocated at budget setting
2. Planning derived funds such as Section 106
3. External funding; these funds are mainly raised by ‘Friends of’ groups by donations, local fundraising events and grant applications