Play area planned at empty site (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Play area planned at empty site

6:20am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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A FORMER garage site could be turned into a children’s play area, if new proposals get the green light.

Bury Council’s childcare services has applied to build a £50,000 natural play area at the junction of Avondale Avenue and Athlone Avenue in Bury, near St John with St Mark Primary School.

The site is said to be in a poor state and used as a dumping ground.

The applications states: “Play equipment would be targeted at ages up to 13. Children have selected equipment and chosen the style of the area.”

Project bosses said they began consulting people in 2008, and that school staff and the majority of neighbours fully supported the plan. Some want to hold community events there, they said.

Police community support officers would regularly patrol the area and the council has agreed to inspect it daily.

Headteacher Janet Moore initially suggested the development and found grant money to support the work.

She said: “There aren’t any play areas of any real size on this side of Walmersley Road. I have wanted to change that since I became headteacher here in 2001.

“This plan is really exciting, especially as many of our pupils have had a chance to say what kind of design they would like.”

The council has written to 39 neighbouring properties as part of a consultation process which ended on Tuesday.

A decision is expected by March 10.

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