ILMINSTER NEWS: Exciting play area proposals for Recreation Ground

CHILDREN have given plans for an amazing play area enhancement at the Ilminster Recreation Ground a massive thumbs-up.

Pupils from Greenfylde First School and Swanmead Community School joined forces this afternoon (Thursday, February 25, 2016) to cast their eyes over the plans being put together by members of Ilminster Town Council earmarked for what is officially known as the Wharf Lane Recration Ground Play Area.

Children were given the first glimpse of the plans today as part of a consultation process and it was little surprise that they were full of support after seeing a multitude of fun activities including an agility trail, a giant play ship, a pyramid rope net, water and sand areas, a meeting place and zip wire along with the more traditional play area pieces of equipment such as swings and slides.

But it won’t be cheap. The play ship alone could cost in the region of a whopping £120,000.

The town council supported the idea - put forward by the Play and Paths Group - of going out to public consultation at its meeting on Tuesday (February 23, 2016).

PHOTO - TOP: Greenfylde First School pupils were full of excitement when they saw the play area plans.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Ilminster Town Council clerk Joy Norris speaks to children from Greenfylde First School and Swanmead Community School.

Cllr Sophie Storey said: “Even though we haven’t got the funding for this – it is all about having a masterplan at this stage.

“If we can take these plans and approve them we can go out into the public domain and tell people that this is what we aspire to give them.

“It will be an amazing facility for the Recreation Ground and will bring the community together.

“We’ve put in a new basket swing at Winterhay Lane which has gone down well – but if we can do something on the main Rec it will be bigger and better.”

Cllr Stuart Shepherd said: “I commend the plan, but we shouldn’t take our eyes off the ball. Paths are as important as the play area.”

Cllr Storey said that paths were very important as it would make play area more accessible to people.

But she added: “People don’t want a concrete jungle on the Rec.”

She emphasised that with a masterplan in place it would be easier to get outside funding for the project.

Cllr Storey and town clerk Joy Norris met with the Greenfylde and Swanmead pupils today to discuss the plans and were delighted with the response and that the young people took a big interest in the project.

More consultations with local people will take place and the results will be reported back to the town council together with a final masterplan for approval.

Quotations will also be sought for the play area work.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Cllr Sophie Storey, of Ilminster Town Council, discusses the plans with pupils.

PHOTO - ABOVE: A possible layout of the play area with the existing skate park facilities to the bottom left of the area.

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