YEARS of uncertainty over the future of a children s play area for a Budleigh Salterton housing estate are finally over. The district council has announced Norman s Crescent playground will be built within the next eight weeks.

YEARS of uncertainty over the future of a children's play area for a Budleigh Salterton housing estate are finally over.

The district council has announced Norman's Crescent playground will be built within the next eight weeks.

Residents last weekend voted for the equipment they wanted to see on the site, as part of an on-going East Devon District Council (EDDC) consultation.

From the 75 homes on the estate, some 69 residents of all ages, including 29 children under the age of 14, voted for one of three options offered by the council.

The picture shows part of the winning playground design - which scooped 48 votes - and will have a slide, climbing wall, stepping logs, a basket swing, spring wobble board, rope tunnel, rope climber, a small bridge, stepping stones and a formal seating area.

The area will also be landscaped to create mounds, and planting will be used to give it more of a natural feel.

Budleigh Salterton mayor, Councillor Courtney Richards said: "It has been along time coming.

"A lot of people were opposed to it, but building the playground was a condition on which their own houses were built.

"It will keep a lot of children amused for a long time and it's in a safe area, nowhere near any roads."

Residents have been involved in the design of the play area since March.

Every household was given the chance to speak up about the play equipment's design, colour and materials.

In July, EDDC officers and St Peter's Primary School pupils held a brainstorming session to gauge play equipment needs.

It was found that swinging, sliding and climbing were the most popular activities.

Local opinion was added to a council document sent to several play companies, which was returned with suggestions on how best their needs could be met.

The money for the new play area is being funded by the developer who built Norman's Crescent.

The cash is part of Section 106 condition of the planning approval being granted.

Some �26,000 had been set aside for the park.

The fund was in danger of being lost, if residents decided not to forge ahead.