East Devon children set to benefit from £1.2m play area investment
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
Children in Honiton are set to enjoy upgraded play areas as part of a £1.2 million improvement scheme announced by East Devon District Council.
Three play sites in the town - Willow Walk, Allhallows, and Whitebridges - will benefit from the project, which aims to create more inclusive and engaging spaces for children of all ages and abilities.
The upgrades will introduce more than 100 new pieces of equipment across ten sites in East Devon, including climbing frames, ground-level trampolines, tunnels, and wheelchair-accessible roundabouts. Willow Walk is among the first five locations scheduled to reopen before the summer holidays, with £79,000 allocated for its refurbishment. Allhallows and Whitebridges, with planned investments of £167,000 and £166,000 respectively, will be upgraded after the summer to avoid disrupting the busiest season for families.
Councillor Geoff Jung, EDDC’s portfolio holder for environment – operations, said: “It’s fantastic to see this investment moving forward, with brand-new play areas that reflect what our communities told us they wanted. We’re delivering more inclusive spaces that encourage children of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors. I’m especially pleased that the work has been carefully scheduled to minimise disruption during the summer holidays.”
The improvements are funded primarily through EDDC’s capital programme, which contributes £1.1 million, with the remainder coming from S106 developer contributions.
Designs for the upgraded play areas were shaped by feedback from local residents, who took part in a public consultation earlier this year.
Those who participated are now being contacted with updates on the project.
The council expects the first five play areas to reopen by the school summer break, with some potentially completed even earlier. In addition to Willow Walk in Honiton, these include Land of Canaan in Ottery St Mary, Carter Avenue and Brixington Playing Field in Exmouth, and Baker Close in Sidmouth.
The remaining five sites, including the two others in Honiton, will follow later in the year, helping to ensure families have access to play areas throughout the summer while construction continues.
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