WORK is set to start on a major upgrade of Millom Play Park.
State-of-the-art climbing towers and slides, group swings and spinning equipment will be installed at the St George’s Road park by April 2021 in the first phase of a redevelopment programme. Groundwork will take place before Christmas and installation of the new equipment will start in January.
Millom Town Council is leading on the redevelopment, having received just over £200,000 of Copeland Council’s successful bid to the Government accelerated funding scheme as part of the Towns Fund programme.
The town council has been working on a design for the new park for the last 12 months and has consulted with a range of pupils from the town’s schools to arrive at the final lay-out.
Ruth Peter, Acting Mayor of Millom, said: “We are thrilled that work will soon start on this much-needed redevelopment. The children themselves decided on the key elements they wanted to see incorporated within their new park and also selected the overall design concept, so it has truly been created by the children – for the children.
“This wonderful outcome after years of hard work and commitment to the community is, in part, a result of the vision of the previous Mayor, Councillor Angela Dixon, and the professionalism of Councillor Jenn Jakubowski.”
Mike Starkie, Mayor of Copeland, said: “It’s very welcome news that work will soon begin on the park upgrade, and Copeland Council has worked diligently with Millom Town Council and the Town Board to help secure the funding to make it possible. We hope that this scheme – and the remainder of the schemes in this accelerated funding part – is just the start of major regeneration in Millom.”
Cumbrian firm Playdale has been selected to install the new park equipment in this first phase. The second phase is currently awaiting a funding decision.
Deborah Wilson, from Millom Infant School, said: “The children have enthusiastically thought about how they would like the park to be developed, and we believe it would be a hive of activity – a real hub of the community – and a place where they will value and take great pride in.”
Kelly James, of Stepping Stones, added: “The park desperately needs and deserves major upgrades. The space is vast and could be an invaluable asset to the town, drawing in visitors and giving the children and young people of our town a safe and inviting area for them to play, socialise and have fun!”
Copeland Council successfully bid for a total of £500,000 immediate funding for Millom while work is ongoing by the Town Board on the significant funding bid of up to £25 million due in January 2021.
Millom’s remaining £300,000 is earmarked for a new accessible cycling/running/walking track, a new digital trail celebrating poet Norman Nicholson, and the potential purchase of a prominent dilapidated building. All projects must be completed by April 2021.
