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We created the Improving Play Spaces Fund back in April as part of our commitment to invest in children and young people.
North Somerset is a great place to grow up but we want to make childhood fairer for everyone, especially those who are vulnerable, disadvantaged, or have special educational or additional needs.
While developing and creating new play areas, we’re also making them more accessible and inclusive.
To do this we offered £250,000 in capital matched funding of up to 50 per cent of project cost.
This was over and above the £300,000 annual capital funding budget we allocated to improve the council’s own play areas.
In total, 27 applications were received for the Improving Play Spaces Fund from town and parish councils, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and community groups.
We increased our budget in order to offer grants to all 23 projects that met the assessment criteria.
As well as revamping existing play areas, two new ones will be created in Clevedon and Failand.
The 23 sites are:
- Abbots Leigh village field
- Backwell Downside play area
- Backwell playing fields
- Banwell Riverside
- Bleadon Coronation Hall
- Churchill Ladymead Lane
- Clevedon Alexandra Gardens (a new play area)
- Clevedon Teignmouth Road, Strode Road, Kenn Moor Drive
- Congresbury King George V Field
- Dundry Recreation Ground
- Flax Bourton Farleigh Green
- Hutton Elmhurst play area
- Locking Moor - three play areas on the Flowerdown housing estate
- Long Ashton Gardeners Walk
- Portbury play area
- Portishead Lake Grounds
- St George’s Milestone Court
- Tickenham village field
- Weston-super-Mare - Castle Batch, Worle
- Winford Vee Lane
- Winscombe and Sandford – War Memorial Recreation Ground
- Failand Village Hall (a new play area)
- Wrington Recreation Field.
The awards will fund projects of different sizes – from one piece of equipment to multiple pieces – but all will make play facilities more accessible and inclusive.
All projects will be delivered by the end of March 2023.
This project is a great example of us working in partnership with local communities and sharing resources to improve facilities for our residents.
Alongside this investment, we’re also renewing our efforts and commitment to tackle antisocial behaviour in our parks and play areas.
We want our residents are urged to ‘say something if they see something’ by reporting all incidents of antisocial behaviour.
Do this by calling the police on 101 or by completing a short online form. Always call 999 in an emergency.