More Fylde park play area improvements on the way

The play sites at Promenade Gardens and Ashton Gardens, both in St Annes, and Mornington Meadows in Lytham have all been identified by Fylde Council as ready for upgrades to improve the quality of play on offer.

The council says that an audit conducted by its Parks and Coastal Services team found several of the more frequently used children’s play areas in Fylde would greatly benefit from remedial and replacement works to equipment and surfacing.

A subsequent community group consultation helped lay out specifications for what each of the sites would most benefit from, with particular attention paid to improving accessibility, and ensuring that health and safety requirements are met.

Coun Michael Sayward, chairman of the council’s leisure and tourism committee, said: “The safety, wellbeing and inclusivity of our children is a huge priority for the council.

"Our ongoing programme of enhancements will ensure that play areas throughout Fylde can continue to be enjoyed for years to come.”

Last month, the tourism and leisure committee recommended improvement work to play areas at Lowther Gardens, Lytham and Waddington Road, Raleigh Close and Hove Road, all St Annes, which will go before next month’s full council meeting.

The recommendation for remedial works at those sites has a capital budget of £120,000 earmarked for work in the 2023/2024 financial year.

Fylde Council holds an operating budget to carry out minor repairs to play equipment and surfacing.

This budget covers the replacement of worn parts such as bolts, panels, and seats, as well as small repairs to rubber safety surfacing, fencing and furniture. However, the Council does not hold a budget for the full replacement of failing or decommissioned play equipment or safety surfacing.

The contract fo the work at Promenade Gardens, Ashton Gardens and Mornington Meadows has been awarded to Kompan Ltd, with a funding budget of £100,000 included within the Capital Programme for 2022/2023.

Play areas at Lansdowne Road at Ansdell, Heeley Road, St Annes and South Park, Lytham are among those which have all seen improvement work carried out in the last couple of years, while a new play site has been established at Blackpool Road North Playing Fields, St Annes..