Work to build a brand new £64,000 play area in Highbridge has been completed, but the opening of the facilities has been postponed due to this week’s wet weather.
Sedgemoor District Council is working with building firm Halcrow on delivering the new facilities in the town’s Southwell Gardens.
The new play park replaces the former 20-year old facilities next to the playing fields behind Highbridge’s St John Ambulance HQ.
Council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The play area is now complete but due to very heavy rainfall we have decided to keep the barriers up around the site until the ground dries out. It would quickly turn into a mud quagmire if we were to open it at the moment.”
The project has been funded by property developers’ mandatory community contributions to offset the impact of local housing development and the district council.
“A timber playship will be the focal point of the play area once it is completed,” said council spokeswoman Sam Taylor.
“Other equipment will include a zigzag bridge, slope slide with single step ladder, nest swing, roundabout speed gyro, sea horse springer and duo springer. The site will also be landscaped with grassed earth mounds, tarmac footpath links, seating and bins.”
“This refurbishment is being primarily funded by RLT2 developer funds with a proportion being drawn from Sedgemoor District Council’s parks budget.”
Councillor John Swayne, Portfolio Holder for Community and Scrutiny, added: “Sedgemoor District Council is committed to investing in play areas. This is phase one of an on-going project to improve the play facilities in our local parks. The next parks tabled for improvement, as part of phase two, are Talbot Close, Stilings Close and Coleridge Gardens in Highbridge.”
Pictured: Top, the play area this week; and above, Sedgemoor’s Harley Cook with Halcrow’s Sherri Edwards holding the plans for the site
