Toddlers at play in Gildersome
Update: Installation of the new play equipment is due to begin on 20 February 2012. It could take up to two weeks for the work to be completed. For safety reasons the whole play area will be closed while the improvements are made.
A full update can be found here.
Playtime fun is guaranteed for Gildersome toddlers thanks to the efforts of the Parish Council and the installation of a new piece of play equipment in the village playground. The new play equipment a small multi unit for toddlers is shortly to be installed in the playground, replacing a redundant roundabout. In addition, one of the flat swings is to be replaced with a "boat" seat enabling less mobile children access to the swings.
Funding for the project has been secured by Gildersome Parish Council who applied for a £15,000 grant from the Landfill Communities Fund. All waste that goes to landfill is subject to Landfill Tax and a percentage of the levy can be used to fund environmental and community projects, such as Gildersome's project. The Caird Bardon Community programme, which funded the Gildersome grant, supports projects which deliver new and better community amenities. Vice Chair of Gildersome Parish Council, Pat Pearson, said: "In addition the Parish Council has committed £5,000 from our funds towards the project and ward councillor, Robert Finnigan has provided some s106 green space improvement money for the balance. The project is a joint effort between the City Council and the Parish Council on behalf of Gildersome toddlers."
Pat Pearson explained the reasoning behind the acquisition: "Our playground area is a multi-age affair catering for tots to teenagers, and whilst there's a skate bowl, swings, slides, climbing frame and Teen Shelter, the only piece of equipment suitable for under 5s are two baby swings. Many parents of toddlers travelled outside the village to playgrounds with suitable equipment. We felt the under-5s were under-served in Gildersome, and so the Parish Council decided to do something about it," she added.
Installation of the play equipment is due on site in November, and—weather permitting—should take two weeks to complete.
The Parks and Countryside Service will manage and maintain the new equipment alongside the rest of the play equipment already on site.