More details emerge on ‘dilapidated’ Bideford play area revamp

More details have emerged on the Pollyfield Centre play area in Bideford as it has been revealed Torridge District Council’s ‘dilapidated’ children’s play area is to get a £80,000 revamp.

The Pollyfield ‘infant’ play area next to the Pollyfield Community Centre in East-the-Water has been identified as in desperate need of investment and had to be closed for a period recently over safety concerns.

TDC will use a community cash contribution from the local Cleave Wood development of just over £40,000 and £25,000 from its play area capital reserve funds to fund the work. The community had also raised more than £15,000 towards improvements.

A report to Torridge District Council’s community and resources committee said there had been ‘great community resurgence’ around Pollyfield over the last couple years with the community centre becoming a more welcoming facility.

The football club had grown and a Playzone multi-use sports facility was to be added to this site, so it was important that other facilities, including its play space, were improved to keep up the momentum of revitalising the area.

Councillors heard the authority had done a ‘health check’ of all its play areas and Pollyfield was the only remaining one in poor condition.

Cllr Lyndon Piper, lead member for leisure, said it was “a no brainer” to agree to this.

Five play area installers will be tasked with coming up with designs.

Cllr Chris Leather said he would like to see an all-weather surface used on the whole area as this had worked well in town council led play area projects in Anchor Park and Lords Meadow in Appledore and Northam.

“They used to be just grass and the kiddies got all plastered in mud,” he said.

“I think it’s a missed opportunity if we don’t do the same at Pollyfield. We should take a leaf out of Northam Town Council’s book. I can never see the point in doing half a job.”

He suggested that some of the £59,000 underspend in play area funding could be used on it, but he was not supported by other councillors.

Officers said there would be rubber matting around the main items and it was quite a small space so the grass area was limited.