Schoolchidren open new play areas in Exminister

District council and youngsters from Axminster collaborate to create exciting revamp for tired play areas

Over 150 thousand pounds worth of play equipment has been installed in two Exminister Play areas

£105,000 of the funding for the £120,000 Foxhill play area has come from East Devon District Council’s main budgets. The remaining £15,000 is Section 106 money given by developers who have created new homes in Axminster. The play equipment for Loretto Road has been paid for with £37,000 of Section 106 money, prioritised for the play area by Axminster Town Council.

As part of the equipment selection process, East Devon District Council talked to children and young people of all ages from Axminster, including St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Axminster Baby Café, SWITCH Youth Group, Monday Monkeys and Little Pips to help understand what activities they wanted in the town’s play areas.

The most popular requests from the youngsters involved were sent to a number of play equipment suppliers, who competed to provide the best designs. A good selection of great quality designs were received and, after much deliberation, the council appointed Kompan to manufacture and construct the play areas.

The items chosen by the children/young people involved in these projects include:

• At Foxhill a trampoline set in the ground, a zip wire, a tall slide, basket swing, climbing and spinning items and a farmyard theme, which are all now in place.
• Improvements at Loretto Road include a pirate ship, trampoline in the ground, a tall spinning item for multiple people, a mini zip wire and swings.

The play areas were officially opened by Cllr Val Ranger, East Devon District Council’s Vice-Chairman, who said:

“First of all I want to congratulate all of the children for their fantastic ideas for these play parks. I was particularly impressed with the little roadways and the farm theme at Foxhill, as well as the fabulous mix of equipment. There’s something for smaller children, and something for bigger children, as well as a place where all the family can play together. I came here on Sunday and tried out some of the equipment, which fortunately is just my size and I love that with some of equipment you can use your imagination and do whatever you like, and then you’ve got a lovely mix of traditional games, like hopscotch. I think you’ve just done such a brilliant job and it shows what you can do when you all work together. I know you’ve had input from East Devon District Council and members of Axminster Town Council and ward member Cllr Sarah Jackson. You’ve done a magnificent job!”