Playing in safety
COLATON Raleigh youngsters are to benefit from further playground improvements, which make for safer playing. The village recently pulled together to raise funds to buy new play equipment for the parish park.
COLATON Raleigh youngsters are to benefit from further playground improvements, which make for safer playing.
The village recently pulled together to raise funds to buy new play equipment for the parish park.
Now the parish council has agreed to grant the latest want on the wish-list - an all-weather surface, where older children can play ball games.
The council made the decision after canvassing a number of young people living in the village.
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Members also took into consideration the impact on the site, the visual and environmental effects, maintenance and cost of such a project.
Input based on findings by Colaton Raleigh Children's Action Group (CRCAG) pushed the project forward.
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A �16,000 lottery grant, which carried an expiry date, further helped secure the plan.
A parish council spokesman said Colaton Raleigh was 'most grateful' for the extensive research and effort put into the preparations by the members of CRCAG, for their fundraising efforts and their on-going commitment.
"We are also most grateful to the other people who have taken the trouble to consider and express their information and views," the spokesman said. "Seldom has a village decision been so well researched.
"While the balance of argument was close, it made the councillors' vote the better informed and we trust, successful.
"The topic has been mooted at the four public parish council meetings since January, but the pressure was intensified by the offer of a �16,000 lottery grant, which has to be allotted against invoices before the end of August."
The council also thanked Councillor Ann Liverton for securing a grant from the Lottery Fund.
After weighing up all the options and considering all the feedback, the council chose an artificial surface.
The members were swayed by what they thought best fitted the needs of the children, and by cost.
The council believes the all-weather surface would be no more difficult or expensive to maintain than turf.
The new surface will blend in with the existing grass, will be level and will not hamper the use of the new play equipment, or prevent youngsters playing on the grass.
