Information on Loughborough

Get Your Skates On

Posted on 17/08/2007
Loughborough Newsdesk

skatesYoungsters need to get their skates on if they want to have their say on what features they would like to see in a facelift of two Loughborough parks.

Charnwood Borough Council is planning to revamp play equipment at Southfields Park later this year as part of the Authoritys £1.1m Phase Three Play Area Improvement Scheme.

The popular Skatepark at Southfields Park is to be re-designed and the Council is seeking views on how it should look from its regular users.

A special consultation event will be held on Wednesday, 22nd August, between 10am and 12 noon at John Storer House and Queens Park, when designers of concrete Skateparks will be on hand to discuss ideas and potential plans.

And, at the same time, parents and children can tell Council staff what new play equipment they would like to see installed at the Southfields Park playground.

The equipment will be replaced later this year and examples of some of the state-of-the-art swings, slides, roundabouts, climbing frames and multi units from major suppliers will be on show during the event.

Meanwhile, families can give their views on what they would like to see at Queens Parks during the National Play Day event being held there on August 22nd between 2pm and 4.30pm.

Teenagers up to the age of 18 can also have a say on a range of equipment being designed to keep them entertained at Queens Park.

It is hoped the new equipment at Queens Park, which is a £252,000 project being funded jointly by Charnwood and the Big Lottery Fund, will be installed by May 2008.

Cllr Hilary Fryer, Charnwood Borough Councils Champion for Play, welcomed the chance for all age groups to give their opinion on how their playgrounds should look.

She said: "There is no point in spending money on a playground and facilities which the children themselves will not enjoy.

"By working with them and listening to what they have got to say, we hope they will be very satisfied customers.

"We want them to get pleasure from the play areas and skatepark for years to come and would encourage children of all ages to give their views on Southfields Park and Queens Park and then have a wonderful time at the National Play Day event.

The Play Day is taking place during the final week of Charnwood Borough Councils Summer Holiday Activity Programme, which is sponsored by Astra Zeneca.

There are still spaces available on other events taking place during the week including a trip to West Midlands Safari Park, a three-day Hockey Camp at Soar Valley Leisure Centre, climbing, ice-skating and multi activities.