Cash boost for Gloucester play areas

Published in The Gloucester Citizen newspaper on Fri 23rd Oct 2009

Parents have welcomed plans to give play areas in Gloucester a half-a-million pound makeover.

A total of £500,000 will be used to improve play areas such as Coney Hill Park, Daniel's Brook and Sebert Street.

Gloucester City Council's cabinet backed a proposed programme of work that will see more than a dozen play areas and parks benefit.

The money has been made available through Section 106 funds, which are offered by developers to the council as part of any large-scale planning applications.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton (Lib Dem, Kingsholm) has been campaigning to improve the play facilities at Sebert Street.

He said: "I am delighted that they have identified the £63,000 of funding for the Sebert Street playground.

"We handed in a 600-signature petition calling for improvements, and I have held meetings at the site with council officers and local parents to discuss how we could improve the play area.

"It is currently uninspiring, and they should be able to create a significantly better area."

Mr Hilton said he was pleased to see this money finally being spent.

He said: "I raised questions about this money before. We knew we had these contributions there, but they were just sat in the bank.

"I am delighted they are now going to be used to improve public open space in the city."

The news was welcomed by local residents. Jacqueline Mann, 42, from Abbeymead, who walks through the Clock Tower Park in Coney Hill on her way to work, said: "It would be great if the money was used to install some proper lighting because at the moment it is not well lit in the evenings."

Victor Langford, 82, from Gloucester, uses Hillfield Gardens off London Road.

He said: "I am glad money is being used to improve the area because it is a lovely oasis and pensioners use it regularly."

Carol Nicholls, 48, lives opposite the Sebert Street play area.

She said: "It is nice to see the children playing outside and I hope the money is used to cater for young and old.

"More bins would be useful for this area," she said.

"But I am impressed with what they have done with Gloucester P