A VILLAGE has set itself a target of raising up to £100,000 for a ‘vital’ revamp of a play park.

The Rising Bridge Community Association is aiming to transform the site in Northfield Road after it has steadily fallen into disrepair since the 1980s.

Rossendale Council has given the group permission to carry out the project and work could start in 2019 if the funds are raised in time.

Haslingden-based Proffitts, which is backing the association’s scheme, is set to apply for a range of grants including one from the Lancashire Environment Fund.

Group member Lisa Blood, 36, who has lived in Blackburn Road for 15 years, is helping to lead the project and said the revamp is well overdue.

The mum-of-four said: “This is the only thing the community has and it’s in a real state.

“If we did not have it at all the children in the village would have to cross the bypass to the nearest park which is really not what anybody wants because it’s dangerous.

“The park has not been invested in since the 1980s and it’s falling to pieces.

“We just think that we can’t go on like this for much longer so we decided to do something about it.

“Rossendale Council has given us permission to fundraise and we won’t need planning permission as it’s only replacing what is already there for the most part.”

The project would include making a path to create access for people with disabilities as well as replacing all of the play equipment and building a new bucket swing.

Mrs Blood said: “Proffitts has said the total cost could be between £80,000 and £100,000.

“As a community we will try and raise as much as we can ourselves but most of it is hopefully going to come from grants.

“If it all goes to plan we could start work in 2019.

“It will have a massive impact on the village and will be a real boost.

“It’s vital that something is done to improve this park.

“We hope to create something that will cater from babies through to teenagers.”