Wolverhampton play area with 50-year-old equipment to get £100k revamp

The playground near Windsor Avenue playing fields in Penn features apparatus that has not been updated in almost 50 years, but now new swings, a roundabout and other gear could be on the way.

The play area is set to benefit from a cash boost of £102,000 earmarked for community projects as part of a housing development in nearby Warstones Road.

Developers Tatton Hall Homes are building fourteen three and four bedroom homes at the old Warstones Inn site.

As part of the deal the firm is obliged to provide Section 106 funding to assist the local community.

After a consultation involving residents and Wolverhampton City Council it was decided that an upgrade to the play area was the best way to spend the cash.

Councillor Martin Waite, who represents Penn on Wolverhampton City Council, said: "The equipment at Windsor Avenue is the oldest in the city and it's looking pretty tired.

"Apart from a few licks of paint over the years it hasn't really been touched.

"Back in 2012 it was on the council's list to be replaced but the work never got done due to budget cuts.

"This will be a nice way for the community to benefit from the housing development.

"There is a lot of young children who use the park and the new equipment will add a bit more variation and fun to the play area."

Work is set to start on the revamp as soon as the eleventh home on the new housing development is sold and occupied.

Currently nine homes have been snapped up at the site.

Councillor Waite added: "The developers are on course to have finished building at the site by September and I'm informed they are anticipating June to be the point where the funding is released."

Tatton Hall Homes will deploy private contractors to carry out the work at Windsor Avenue.