Work starts on park play area

8:59pm Friday 4th July 2008

WORK has started on a £130,000 state-of-the-art play area in Taunton's Higher Holway designed to challenge and excite young people.

Part of the site, which should be open by the middle of next month, will be devoted to natural play with hillocks to climb, boulders to scramble over and places where children can build their own dens.

Play equipment will include a cableway, pod swing and girospiral.

There will also be a fenced off play area for the under-fives with a sand base, cradle swings and a runway to the stars'.

Young people have been closely involved in the design of the facility and will produce clay tiles to adorn some special friendship posts.

Cllr Richard Lees, Taunton Deane executive councillor for sports, park and leisure, said: "I'm delighted to see this wonderful project coming to fruition, having involved young people right from the start to create this fabulous play idea.

"It's an amazing use of an area for youngsters to enjoy themselves and express themselves through play in an environment that is safe.

"It also demonstrates how we listen to young people and try to involve them in decision-making and to provide the amenities they want.

"I'm sure they'll use the space with great pleasure."

The scheme is being funded from grants from the unparished precept, developers' agreements and the Deane.

Meanwhile, the fibreglass toads which adorned the Old market Centre for years have been re-sited in Victoria Park.