Date: 20/05/2008
Representatives from High Peak Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council Youth Services met with Hadfield residents, last Thursday, to hear what improvements to play facilities they would like in the area.
Young people and older residents attending the community 'drop-in' at Hadfield Youth Centre gave their opinions on how to improve play equipment at Newshaw Lane Recreation Ground, Bankswood Park and Brosscroft Play Area.
The funding for the project came from part of a £200,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund that aims to deliver a variety of improvements to play facilities throughout the Borough.
Funding has also been made available through the Hadfield Play Improvement Project -- a partnership with DCC Youth Services and the Hadfield Youth Officials, a young person's active citizens group, who have secured £15,000 from the Youth Opportunities Fund towards improvements at Brosscroft Play Area. This site has also received additional funding of £10,000 from Johnnie Johnson Housing.
Andrew Bingham, Executive Councillor for Social and Community Development, who was at the consultation evening, said: "It was good to meet with young people and other residents and find out exactly how they want to improve play facilities. I was particularly pleased to hear what the young people thought. This is a wonderful example of how we can work with partners and residents for the benefit of the whole community. We shall be producing some detailed designs based on the consultation, and inviting everybody along to take a look at them."
Photo: The 'Hadfield Youth Officials' (centre) with Councillors Peter Kay, Andrew Bingham and Faye Edwards from DCC Youth Services (left) and Councillor Cynthia Mitchell (right).