Nelson families hope for play area and new park (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Nelson families hope for play area and new park

2:48pm Friday 8th June 2012 in Nelson

A PLAY zone and new park for the Bradley area of Nelson could move a step closer next week.

The £55,000 scheme would see a children’s play area developed on land off Fleet Street later this year, before a park is built around it in years to come.

Councillors on the Nelson Area Committee are being asked to provide just over £9,000 for the project, with a bid for the bulk of the cost going to the Lancashire Environment Fund in July.

Mohammed Aslam, chairman of Bradley Residents Association, said: “At every meeting we have, this is something that the residents are asking about.

“It is the residents who are pushing for a play area.

“There is a lack of play facilities for children in the Bradley ward so this project is very important, and I hope the funding can be found.”

Judith Watmough, regeneration officer at Pendle Council, said: “The need to create a new park within this part of Nelson was one of the top priorities for local residents when the Bradley regeneration masterplan was agreed.

“During the last few years, land has been assembled by the council for this purpose, using funding from the Housing Market Renewal programme. The key elements of the masterplan for the site include a new equipped play area for young children, a BMX pump track, a landscaped seating area and a community garden.

“Each of these elements of the park will need to be delivered in phases over a number of years.

“The Bradley Residents’ Association has asked that the priority for the next phase should be the creation of a play area for young children as there is currently no such provision within the local area.”

It is hoped that the play area could be completed by autumn of this year.