Play area in Cannock to be revamped
A play area is set to be revamped as part of improvements to an open space in Cannock.
More than £385,000 has been earmarked by Cannock Chase Council for the first phase of the project at Laburnum Avenue.
The funds will come from contributions made by developers who have secured planning permission in the district.
Further proposed phases of work are set to include management and coppicing of woodland at the site, as well as pathway and car park improvements. But the second and third phases will require further funding to take place, a report to the council’s cabinet said.
Cabinet members gave the go-ahead for the first phase of improvements at their meeting on Thursday.
The cabinet report said: “Laburnum Avenue Play Area sits within a deprived area of Cannock Chase and Staffordshire, with above average childhood healthy weight issues, and above the Staffordshire average of children in deprived income families. The existing play area is some 360m2 in size, is not fully inclusive and includes 10 pieces of individual formal play equipment that was last refurbished in part, in 2005, when some of the older damaged units were replaced.
“It has become apparent that it is not only the play area and proposed MUGA (multi use games area) that need restoration / development, but the entire site would benefit from an overhaul, with the original aims in mind. To achieve this, a full redevelopment of the site has been drafted.
“These works are considered too large and costly to be carried out in one go and as such the scheme has been split into three key phases. The cost to fully deliver all three phases is currently estimated at circa £625,457.
“The original aim of developing the site was to create a community forest and open space, incorporating play and sports facilities, with good access across the site, as well as improving the habitat and diversity value of the area. Excluding the formal areas, the site now forms an important and valuable area of semi-natural landscape, to nature, residents, and visitors, adjacent to an urban setting.”
