Prudhoe Town Council agreed at its meeting last night to request a meeting with Active Northumberland to seek ways in which the Town Council can be involved in ensuring the long-term future of this popular, centrally-located play area.

The Town Council recognised that members of the public were very unhappy following the closure of the Play Area, due to health and safety factors, and that the park was a huge miss. 

At the meeting members discussed that the Town Council has experience of managing and developing play areas as well as a continuing commitment to delivering services for local people.  There was definitely an appetite to consider a role for the Town Council in the sustainable future of the play area, therefore, it was agreed it would be appropriate to seek a meeting with Active Northumberland at the earliest opportunity.

Following the discussion by members, County Councillor Gordon Stewart was invited to update the meeting, and was delighted to announce that Northumberland County Council had recently agreed to invest a considerable amount of money in the redevelopment of the play area, and plans were being progressed which would be shared.

Capital investment in the play area by Northumberland County Council was warmly welcomed by Prudhoe Town Council.  The Clerk advised members that, as has been the case in the past, the Town Council should seek to work collaboratively with Active Northumberland and Northumberland County Council, and with park users, to ensure the right scheme and one that results in a play area that is valued by users and one that the Town Council would wish to take on.  The Clerk added that design has a big impact on maintenance costs, especially in relation to play surfacing. 

Although the play area was very well used and enjoyed, replacing ‘like with like’ is not always the answer; the Town Council is keen to include accessible play equipment in play area design in the future, to find out what park users want and to ensure future maintenance is considered.

Any decisions on this matter will be taken at a meeting of the Town Council to which the public are always welcome to attend.  Any comments can be made to the Town Council via telephone, email or letter; please remember we will not enter into discussions via social media.