Campaign to refurbish Barnstaple park

THE people of a busy part of Barnstaple packed with homes and young families are campaigning for a new lease of life for their ageing public park. Zephyr Park is used by residents of all ages from the surrounding community, which includes Bicton Street, C

THE people of a busy part of Barnstaple packed with homes and young families are campaigning for a new lease of life for their ageing public park.

Zephyr Park is used by residents of all ages from the surrounding community, which includes Bicton Street, Charles Dart Crescent, Zephyr Close and Miller Crescent.

But it desperately needs a facelift - its play equipment is old and fading, while the park space itself could be used for greater benefit to the community.

Young mum of two Elaine Geraghty lives near the park and is hoping to unite local residents in a positive campaign to make Zephyr Park a better place for people of all ages.

The Zephyr Residents' Association has also been looking at ways to improve the park. Elaine has put together a short letter and questionnaire which she and her neighbours have distributed around the estate, to learn what residents would like to see happen with their park.

"Our park has fallen into disrepair and is in desperate need of being re-established as a community space," she said.

Elaine plans to present the results of the questionnaire to the next meeting of the residents' association.

Barnstaple Town Councillor Simon Harvey attends association meetings and has also been working with them on addressing park issues and looking at ways of attracting grant money to improve it.

"We would probably need around �40,000," he said. "There is plenty of space there, but it's not being used effectively. North Devon Council's parks department checked it out for me and said the play equipment there is safe but that some was nearing the end of its life."

Anyone in the Zephyr area who would like to find out how they might help, can contact Elaine Geraghty on (01271) 325428.