Darwen playground revamp after long campaign (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Darwen playground revamp after long campaign

9:28am Wednesday 6th August 2008 in

By Catherine Pye » Reporter

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A ‘DECREPIT’ Darwen children’s playground is to receive a £50,000 makeover after years of campaigning paid off.

The playground in Eccleshill, near the community garden, has four swings, a see-saw and a climbing frame which have there for decades.

Over the years, the late Darwen councillor Fred Slater, local residents and now East Rural councillor Julie Slater have been pushing for funding to modernise it.

A feasibility study was carried out and the money has now been awarded from the Play Pathfinders fund.

Coun Slater said: “It’s been a mess for a number of years. It’s so decrepit and other playgrounds in other areas have been done up three or four times in the same time.

“Now we can put in modern equipment for children of all ages. I’m absolutely buzzing about it.

“Rural areas are always at the back of the queue. Now that the leisure centre has shut the children have nowhere to go.”

Irene Guy, 80, of Eccleshill Gardens, has been campaign-ing for years to get the park regenerated.

She said: “Fred and I fought for a long time for this. I wanted to get something for the children because they have nothing.

“It’s wonderful. I’m so proud. I just hope the children appreciate it, but I think they will. A lot will use it, and we need to make sure that we get something for older children.”

Coun Michael Law-Riding, executive member for leisure and culture and play champion said: "A play pathfinder group for the Darwen and rural area has been set up and the area at Eccleshill Gardens identified as a site that could benefit from further development.

“There is potentially up to £50,000 funding to carry out this work.

“We are now in talks with local people to make sure we get it right for them and their children.

“This consultation should be complete by early autumn and then we can get on with plans for the area."

Comments(3)

Market Trader says...
6:05pm Wed 6 Aug 08

Blimey, that must work out at almost £1,000 per child. Did the late Councillor Fred Slater not mention that the Market Hall is in need of a new roof? Perhaps £50,000 could be saved if the council invited the children of Eccelshill to come and play splotch-splash in the puddles down here in the Market.

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Linda Mason says...
9:43pm Wed 6 Aug 08

This is a great achievement for a small rural community.

Heartfelt thanks go out to ALL who campaigned and helped to raise awareness and funds.

This effort was a community effort, not just the effort of a few, as mentioned in this article.

WELL DONE RESIDENTS and friends of Eccleshill Gardens Residents Association.

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conservativemiss says...
10:26pm Thu 21 Aug 08

Dear Market Trader
the childen of this area have needed a new safe playground a lot longer than the market has neede a roof. These children have a lack of local transport and can not get to town. so they need some where to play.Many areas in Blackburn have have their parks renew quite a few times. and other wards have not got any. so the council are trying to sort out the lack of facilities for children in Blackburn with darwen.
people like you always moan children have nothing to do. this will help.

the residents and local cllrs have been fighing for this for a long time. and this funding is given for play and must be spent on play.
I for one am glad the children of the area will benefit from this funding. This is a great achievement for this rural area, which is most of the time neglected. lets hope this is the first of many kinds of funding for this rural area.

Darwen playground revamp after long campaign (From Lancashire Telegraph)

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