The long-awaited redevelopment of a recreational area in Frodsham has finally been given the green light – but controversial proposals for a wheeled play area on the site have been temporarily shelved.
Frodsham Town Council , which owns and manages Churchfields, agreed revised plans at a meeting on Monday (January 26).
Youngsters could be scaling the new mounded play area and play equipment come this summer, as the council is expecting the build, which should last around six weeks, to begin in May.
But the inclusion of a small wheeled play area, or skate park, where children could learn to ride scooters and skateboards, has been dropped.
The proposal prompted protestations from local residents when it was originally put forward, with concerns of anti-social behaviour and noise levelled.
However, a survey of surrounding houses found that 62% of those who responded were actually in favour of the wheeled play area.
Chairman of Frodsham Town Council Mark Warren said it was the ‘single biggest-ticket component’ of the scheme and therefore the easiest to consider as an addition at a later stage.
Other omissions in the plans include a central path, balance posts and a wooden fort feature; footpaths have been standardised and improvements to the kick-about area have been postponed, all of which have brought the cost down to around £100,000 from £160,000, with the wheeled play area estimated at an additional £40,000.
Cllr Warren explained that the scaling down was because of complications securing funding, which have also delayed the project.
“In the case of Churchfields, we’ve had to cut our cloth to suit,” he said.
“The scheme has fallen behind, mainly due to the frustratingly long process of grant and match funding applications – to commence work before the results are known would jeopardise the outcome.
“We had a disappointing response to the grant applications that were made so we’ve scaled down the initial part of the project to suit the available budget, with the knowledge there are components that can be bolted on in the future as and when we receive capital receipts.
“The idea is to get the basic scheme with footpaths, landscaping and play equipment up and running, and see how it binds over the first year or so before reviewing – in conjunction with the users and residents of course.”
But veteran town councillor Frank Pennington doesn’t believe Churchfields requires a revamp at all and would rather see the money spent on Frodsham’s elderly residents.
He said: “It is the last open space in Frodsham and I think the development is quite unnecessary.
“We have a different kind of youth today. They aren’t interested in playing on swings.
“Sixty-five per cent of Frodsham’s population are senior citizens but we seem to be looking towards the youth all the time.
“I am so annoyed by the way our older people have been treated by the council in the past four or five years.”
