Costs threaten many of town’s play areas

THE number of equipped play areas in Ellesmere Port could be nearly halved to just 19.

Borough chiefs say they cannot afford to maintain all the 33 current equipped sites to the highest standard.

So a report into Ellesmere Port & Neston’s open spaces suggests there should be just one high-standard equipped play area in each of the council’s 19 wards.

The Pioneer has seen the list of sites which may lose their equipment to be designated simply as “open space”.

No decision has yet been made by the council, which is still studying reports on how best to prioritise play, football and teenage facilities across the borough.

Mike Whittaker, head of environmental services, said in a report to the community committee: “During the last few years a number of the borough’s equipped play areas have been substantially improved to provide new and exciting provision for children.

“They are Whitby Park, Stanney Fields Park, Luton Road Park, Wolverham Park, Westminster Park, Hooton Green play area, Johnson’s Recreation play area (in Neston) and the Ropewalk play area (in Parkgate).

“The improvements undertaken to date have been very successful, and resulted in much better play provision for children, as well as metal railings, wet pour safety surfacing, self-closing gates, appropriate signage and Disability Discrimination Act-compatible provision.”

Mr Whittaker added: “The borough currently has 33 equipped play areas, of which eight have been improved.

“However, it has become clear we cannot sustain all 33 to the desired standard.

“The Open Spaces Supplementary Planning Document suggests there should be one high-standard equipped play area per ward.

“This would reduce the numbers of equipped play areas, but not reduce the open space as non-equipped areas would still remain designated as open space.”

The document suggests that Stoke Gardens, Capenhurst Lane, Parklands View, Thorne Drive and Wenlock Lane, all Ellesmere Port, and Neston Recreation Ground, Stychcroft, Marshlands Road and New Road, all Neston, are not kept as equipped play areas following the review.

And it says Rother Drive, Armthorpe Drive, Dolphin Crescent, Foxall Way and Randle Meadow, all of which are not presently equipped, should stay that way.

The document, which also recommends a review of sports pitches and teenage facilities in the borough, says 66% of residents think there is not enough for young people to do, and 51% feel there are too few outdoor sports.