Play park group to give residents voice

By abrennan

The new play and skate park in Midsomer Norton is nearing completion and a group has been set up to ensure that the finished article is just want the community wants.

A Gullock Tyning Management Group, which has grown out of the original group who took part in consultations on the project, has been established by Bath and North East Somerset Council as a way of ensuring residents have their say in how the park will be run.

Organisations include B&NES, Manic Skaterz, Norton Radstock Town Council, Wansdyke Play Association, Midsomer Norton Community Association, Aquaterra Leisure and the police.

They have set out a vision for the new play park which they say will make it a high-quality, safe, challenging and vibrant space for children and young people, owned by the community with opportunities for future development.

A launch event is being scheduled this summer which will be open to people of all ages.

The Midsomer Norton Community Association represents the town on a number of projects, as well as managing the Somer Centre.

Association chairman Terry Taylor said: "The new adventure play park and skate park really is an exciting opportunity for the community and we are absolutely delighted that it is happening.

"This association, as well as the Rotary Club of Midsomer Norton and Radstock, has been behind it from day one.

"It's important that the key stakeholders and the community are involved in how the park is developed and maintained and this group will help us to do that."

Town councillor Rob Appleyard sits on the group and said it was essential that the support and views of young people was taken on board.

He said: "It's important not only at this time when everyone is excited about the project but into the future so that we have a sustainable asset for future youngsters to enjoy. They must have a valued position on the management committee."

Local ward councillors Shirley Steel and Barry Macrae co-chair the group.

Mrs Steel said: "This long awaited adventure play park and skate park is at last only a few months away and I am delighted for the children and young people in the area. I'm looking forward to working with the future users on this management group."

A further meeting will be held with young people to develop their ideas for the management of the park and to get their views about encouraging to use it and look after it.

Work started on the play park in early December and is expected to be completed in May.

The council consulted widely with the community, including with schools, children and young people and residents about what the park should provide.

A number of measures were built into the park plans as a result of this consultation to tackle some residents' concerns about noise and anti-social behaviour.

The plans now include traffic calming, CCTV cameras as well as acoustic hedge/earth bund around the site to keep potential noise levels outside the park within permitted levels.