Fun time for children as play park installed
9:00pm Friday 13th January 2012 in News
Children from Heytesbury Hedgehogs pre-school and Heytesbury Primary School try out some of the new equipment added to the village play area
Youngsters in Heytesbury are checking out £32,000 worth of new equipment installed in the village’s play area.
New features include a 60m timber trail, an 8m-high unpredictable basketball game, called the Fireball, and two pieces of outdoor fitness equipment.
The improvements were partly funded by a £15,500 Landfill Communities Fund grant from the Hills Group, through Community First, with the rest coming from the community.
Vanessa Sturmey, a parish councillor for Heytesbury, Imber and Knook, said: “It had a roundabout and swings put in in 2005, but that’s all. It wasn’t much fun.
“This project started over two years ago, with our application for a Playbuilder grant to improve the area. Although this was unsuccessful, we are very pleased that the community came together to complete the project in time for Christmas.
“Everyone has been very generous and the improvements seem to be popular. It is winter at the moment, of course, but the school and pre-school are very keen to use it.”
Other improvements include a multi-level play tower, which has a climbing wall and a helter skelter slide.
In a display of community generosity, much of the money was raised through donations from local businessmen Richard Guy of the Real Meat Company, Jack Waters of J&G Vehicle Repairs and Matthew Lippinton of the Sound Post.
More was given by the parish council, Heytesbury Hedgehogs Pre-School, Selwood Housing, Heytesbury Young Persons’ Organisation and the Warmin-ster Area Board.
Council chairman Ann Perry said: “We want to thank all those who have generously contributed to this project.
“Children and their families can now escape to an environment that is safe, fun and friendly to enjoy, and also enables the young and young-at-heart to play and exercise together.
“This is a marvellous achievement for the village and its residents.”
In order to thank everyone who donated money to the project, the council held an open day, with coffee and mince pies, at the school.
