Bid For Lottery Funding To Improve Children's Activity Areas

A bid is being submitted by the Council for lottery funding of £200,000 which, if successful, will help improve children’s play space in Purbeck.

Purbeck District Council has been given the opportunity to bid for this money by the Big Lottery Fund and, following approval by Members at last night’s Council meeting (Tuesday 21 August), will be putting together a Purbeck Play Action Plan by September 2007 as part of the bid to secure the money.

The priority areas identified for improvement within the Purbeck Play Action Plan are an extension to the existing play area at King George Playing Fields in Swanage, new teen facilities such as a games area, outdoor gym equipment and meeting places for teenagers in and around Upton and a new Woodlands Estate play area in Sandford. Money would also be allocated to mobile soft play equipment for the Dorset Children Service to be used for sessions in Purbeck.

Play England have been involved in the revised Dorset Play Strategy which ensures a co-ordinated approach for the provision of children’s play facilities across the whole of the county. If the bid is successful, the funding will be awarded in December 2007.

Councillor Mike Pratt, Sport and Recreation Adviser said: “This is a great opportunity to improve the facilities available for children in and around Purbeck and reflects one of the Council’s key strategic objectives of ‘Enhancing the Quality of Life in Purbeck’. We will be doing all we can to help ensure our bid is successful and these exciting initiatives can be delivered”.

Contact:

Alex Clothier, Projects Development Officer on 01929 557349

email: alexclothier@purbeck-dc.gov.uk