Play Area Project
The proposal is to provide a play area on the site of the old Putting Green at the Eastern end of the Village Green - please note that this section of the Green is NOT registered village Green - see the map of the proposed site below:
Play Area Scheme poster - click here
The Parish Council's Community Projects Committee has been tasked with this project, and it is being undertaken solely due to it being flagged up as a desirable project in the Parish Plan consultation exercise - further consultation took place with both local residents and school children in September 2007 to gauge initial reactions, which were mixed!
A total of 7 play equipment manufacturers were consulted during the Summer of 2007, with most of them meeting on site to discuss ideas and options. General proposals were sent back to the Parish Council, which the Community Projects Committee looked at in November 2007.
It was decided in November 2007 to consult further with the school children, specifically with a view to identifying a range of play equipment and then to firm up on quotes from, perhaps, 3 of those manufacturers who have been contacted already. A power-point presentation was put together for this purpose and both schools in the Parish as well as the Pre-School were consulted 300 children! Residents in the immediate vicinity and wider have also been kept up to date with developments, most recently in January 2008 and monthly progress reports are included in the Village newsletter "Gurnard News".
At the May 2008 Community Projects Committee meeting it was reported that the school consultations involving about 300 youngsters proved very worthwhile, with the young people showing themselves not only enthusiastic but helpful! A main central multi-activity item of equipment was favoured, surrounded by 2/3 "springer" type pieces and perhaps a step ladder slide for the very young together with a couple of seats. During June 2008 firm quotes were obtained from manufacturers, and in July 2008 the manufacturer Eibe was selected to work with on the project, and the scheme includes a central multi-activity boat and much more surrounding equipment than was imagined possible for the space - an Eibe representative attended the committee meeting in September 2008 to firm up on a scheme design and an exhibition was held on 17th & 18th October 2008 at the Primary School. There were drawings, plans, images of the equipment and a power-point presentation for visitors to look at, and about 75 people came along with most making some positive or creative comment. Planning consent was applied for in November and granted in February 2009, and attempts are continuing to access funding for the project - about £66,000 is needed, to include the steel bowtop perimeter fencing and gating, seats & litter bin etc.. Just under £2000 was raised during 2008 through a grant from the Rural Commnunity Council and a donation from the Gurnard Bonfire Society, and a further £10,000 grant was awarded from the Awards for All programme in March 2009. News came in June 2009 that the Parish Council had been successful in its grant applications to the European Union's Leader Fund and HM Government's Play Builder Fund, with a written confirmation being received of £15,000 and £50,000 respectively. The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is funded by Defra and the EU. The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD): Europe investing in rural areas.
This obviously opens up the way ahead to make a start in the project itself! Negotiations are currently on-going with the IW Council to arrange cover for insurance, maintenance and inspection regime, as well as obtaining some help with the project management. Tthe 1st 50% of the Play Builder Fund has arrived in the Parish Council's bank account, and the manufacturer (Eibe Play) was instructed to proceed on 17th July 2009. Installation commenced on 14/9/09 and took about a week. The equipment was left in a Herras fencing enclosure pending safety inspections and the arrival of the bow top fencing and easy gate accesses and, althoigh some youths did break in one weekend to drink inside (how sad is that!?) no damage was sustained to the new equipment (huge thanks to the resident who called the Police). The fencing was installed during the 1st week of October and youngsters "officially" gained access to the scheme on 9th October - it seems to have been a roarinbg success with the only adverse comments being made with reference to there not being any seating for the poor old parents! Fear not, 2 seats are on order, as well as a litter bin. A formal launch/opening took place on Monday 16th November at 2pm and the school council at Gurnard Primary School performed the honours, in the company of the whole school! A library of photos of the scheme's construction and the opening ceremony appears below.
The men arrive, but no container yet!
Big tough toys for big tough boys
Day 1 continues
At last - the gear's arrived!
Excavations commence - the pile of earth is where the bird's nest swing is going.
Herras fencing is up - the rectangular hole is the for the ship.
This was really quick - day 2! The ship takes shape.
The gangway is lifted in
The bird's nest swing frame is secured
Real progress now - bird's nest swing nearly completed and the little ship is also in.
This is so unusual - a butterfly climbing frame
Starting to see the bigger picture now
This was to try and keep people out until we were ready to open it and the safety inspection was completed - are you having a laugh? - ha!
Finished! Just waiting for the safety inspection and sign off.
Now the nice fencing goes up
The sun did come out - it all started with rain
A policeman and his daughter try out the bird's next swing - this was day one of it being open.
These 2 were here during a school day - development day?
Wow - the word is out! This was the 1st weekend - lots of fun
All Gurnard Primary School came for the opening on 16th November 2009
The day started very dull - it rained all morning!
The Headteacher gives some tips to the school couincil, who will open the scheme
The Parish Council Chairman welcomes one and all
The speeches begin
Are the scissors sharp enough?
Then we let them in!
Everyone looks on
That's all folks - what's next?
Well - good point - what next? Some parents felt the birds nest swing was a "bit scary" for the younger ones, so work on installing a double swing for the "tiny's" got underway on Friday 23rd April 2010. We thought the small boat would have to be moved but this turned out not to be the case as we managed to install the swing in the far corner by the beach huts, meaning the balance beams had to be moved, and it was decided to re-install them in such a way as to create a challenging circuit that linked up with the wobbly bridge. The installation of 4 seats, all of which are dedicated, was completed by early April 2010 - happy parents! Some pictures of the final installation process are below.
Ooops! - had to put it back!
Balanced beams in new position
Work progressing well
All done!
A complaint about noise was made to Environmental Health in mid/late July 2010 - we await the result of the investigation.
