Roundabout in Infants Play Area
We're pleased to report that following the public's great response to our ePetition urging the council to replace the roundabout in the Infants Play Area, a new roundabout has been ordered and is expected to be installed in September 2015. At the same time a new synthetic carpet island will be laid around the roundabout, the multi-use climbing unit and the inclusive springer.
Improvements will also be made to the safe surface in the Junior Play Area.
Funding is now available:
Thank you to everyone who signed our on-line petition asking the council to find funds to replace the roundabout. The ePetition closed with 211 signatures, which makes it the second highest ever electronic only petition on the council web site and the 4th highest listed on the site altogether (including paper petitions).
The petition was presented to Local Councillors at the 10 June Area Committee.
Councillors were very supportive and asked for a report on available funds.
A report was submitted to the next Area Committee Meeting on 15 July requesting approval of approximately £10,156 of new commuted sums to Marple Memorial Park. The report also showed that £8,132 has been previously allocated to the park, making a total of £18,288 available for improvements to play if the report was approved.
Unfortunately councillors had questions about the report that could not be answered because an Officer was not present. Councillors asked for the Officer to attend the next meeting on 12 August in order to answer their questions.
An Officer attended the 12 August meeting and local councillors were satisfied and approved the report.
Infants Play Area Improvements:
As well as the new roundabout, both the Infants and Junior Play Areas need replacement and / or repairs to safe surfaces.
The funds now available will be used to purchase a new roundabout and to install a synthetic carpet over the existing safe surfaces around the roundabout, the multi-use climbing frame and the inclusive springer. This will create a continuous level safe surface around all 3 pieces of equipment.
The roundabout has been ordered and the work is expected to be done in September after the school holidays.
It is not planned to do the safe surface around the swings, the Wendy house or the set of 3 “springers” at this time. This is because their life expectancy is relative short and we would like to replace them with new equipment when further funds can be made available in the future.
Junior Play Area Improvements:
In the Junior Play Area it has been agreed to replace the coloured sections of wet pour safe surface that have become detached from the surrounding tarmac around each piece of equipment, which should prolong the life of the Junior Play facility safe surfaces for a good number of years.
This work will also be done in September 2015 but we have asked that it is staggered with the Infants Play Area so that they are not both closed at the same time.
Friends of Marple Memorial Park, 30 July 2015