Playground Update & Community Topics
On behalf on Staveley Village Association, I am delighted to report that we have successfully reached our £120k fundraising target, with only a few donations still to be banked. We have received donations/grants from 61 businesses, 9 charitable bodies and support from many individuals. It has been a truly great community effort, achieved in under six months.
RG Parkins and the Environment Agency are progressing the flood risk assessment, which is required for the playground planning application. After consultation with The Lake District National Park Authority and to avoid installation delays, we have lodged a retrospective planning application, which includes the playground refurbishment and some improvements to the adjacent Pavilion building (improved changing rooms, an outside toilet and larger windows overlooking the playground). The improvements to the Pavilion are being designed by Collingridge & Smith, funded by Staveley Village Association and will be undertaken this summer.
Playdale started the playground installation on 4th May and are making good progress, with most of the new play equipment now in place and the safety soft-surface groundwork well underway. Playdale expect to finish Phase One (80% of the scheme) by 31st May. If we can secure SLDC’s agreement to inspecting the new facilities on 1st June; and everything goes to plan, we can partially open the playground for use during the Queens Jubilee weekend (2nd-5th June) and beyond.
Phase Two (the final 20% nearest the river) will be started on Monday 4th July and will be complete by Friday 15th July. We hope this phase will include child-friendly planting within the playground enclosure.
We are planning an official playground opening event at 12 noon on Sunday 17th July. We hope this will attract a significant proportion of Staveley residents to join us and celebrate the successful completion of the important community project, largely funded and organised by local residents, companies & charities. We have invited local clubs, societies & groups to be in attendance to promote themselves. There will be food, drinks and entertainment. We hope to secure coverage by local media.
Cumbria Development Education Centre, in partnership with The Green Place Project and Staveley Village Association are organising The Staveley Community Celebration Day on Sunday 12th June between 10am & 3pm at The Pavilion. This is an opportunity for local residents to see the playground in action, see the refurbishment plans for the Pavilion and feedback on conceptual ideas for a Pumptrack in the far corner of the Ayland.
A Staveley Village Association Facebook post on 1st May sought community support for the introduction of a 20 MPH speed limit and a pedestrian crossing to improve the safe access to the new playground. This post attracted a record 181 “Likes”. This should help the Parish Council to secure these road safety improvements from Cumbria County Council before Christmas. I really hope that all of our local politicians commit to ensuring this happens.
Robert Perkins
Deputy Chair
Staveley Village Association