Playground Update 28th March 2022
It is now nearly five months since the trustees of Staveley Village Association closed the playground on 31st October 2021. This has proved to be a valuable catalyst to community fundraising, which has now reached £110k of the £120k required. There are two outstanding grant applications with Cumbria County Council & The Frieda Scott Trust, totalling £5k. We also have events (Easter Egg Hunt, MTB etc) which we hope will raise £3k. If we secure both grants and the event income is as expected, then we will have a final push to fundraise the £2k balance.
SVA has submitted a formal planning application for the new playground with the Lake District National Park Authority, who have asked for a Flood Risk Assessment as part of the process. SVA have appointed RG Parkins of Kendal to undertake this work. The planning application includes provision for a new toilet in the corner of the Pavilion building with an independent external access for users of the playground. The application also includes the installation of large patio-style glass doors to improve the visibility of the playground from the Pavilion. These two enhancements are being funded directly by the SVA. We await planning approval.
Heras fencing has been erected around the perimeter of the playground to control access during the demolition and construction work. The programme of removing obsolete & worn out equipment & surfaces from the playground is now complete. A huge thank you to everyone involved.
The boulders (costing £3k) will be delivered and installed during April.
SVA has placed confirmed orders with Playdale for both Phase One & Two (costing £117k). Deposits totaling £30k have been paid to Playdale. Phase One installation is scheduled to begin on Tuesday 3rd May and be complete on Friday 27th May. Phase Two installation is scheduled to begin on Monday 4th July and be complete by Friday 15th July.
SVA are seeking guidance on suitable planting within the playground enclosure.
We plan to hold an official opening event and will finalise the date for this once installation dates are confirmed. Provisionally, this will be planned for Sunday 17th July at 12 noon.
SVA plan to take advantage of construction equipment being on site for the playground to enable safer turning of cars visiting the Pavilion and to replace ageing floodlight poles, lights and cabling for the training pitch.
The high volume and high speed of traffic on the Kendal Road as it passes the playground, make it important to implement a 20 MPH speed limit in this area of the village and to have a pedestrian crossing to access the playground from the pavement on the opposite side of the road. We have asked the Parish Council to priorities these initiatives.
SVA Trustees.