West Somerset Council is calling on all the local people in the Cuckoo Meadow area of Minehead to express their views regarding what sort of children's play area is needed. The information is vital to the success of a substantial Big Lottery bid that could help fund the sort of play facilities required in that part of Minehead.
“We hope local people will take part in this consultation event as this bid could bring in over £100,000 to Cuckoo Meadow, through organised activities and new play equipment, if the Stage 2 application is successful with the Big Lottery,” said Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew, lead member for the environment.
To make it easy to take part all local residents, including children, are encouraged to come to Sainsbury Hall, Sainsbury Road, Minehead on Thursday, October 2 at any time between 4.15 pm and 6.45 pm and vote for the pieces of equipment and activities they would like to have in the Cuckoo Meadow Play Area, if the Big Lottery Application is successful.
West Somerset Council’s Housing and Community project lead has been working with the community, Minehead Town Council, the local PCSO, local voluntary groups, housing providers, Minehead Eye and Somerset Rural Youth Project to try to redevelop the play area off Whitworth Road, to meet local needs.
A survey was sent out a year ago to residents in the area. Of the 200 that went out,17 households returned their survey. These represented 36 of the children living in the local area.
The survey revealed that more than two thirds of the children and young people used the area in the evenings with this increasing to 88% during the weekend. All respondents asked for organised activities on the site and local youth provision.
The top three choices of equipment were swings, slides and equipment which rotated/spun. Goal posts were also requested. Feedback also included providing a new access point to the site (kissing gate for push chair, wheelchair access and infirm - present access is on a steep slope), picnic area for whole family enjoyment of the area.
Further consultation was carried out in February, including two first school focus group consultations, mobile youth worker outreach and a trip to other play areas. This supported the earlier findings of the need for organised activities on the site, local youth provision, facilities for ball games on the site due to games being played in the road, facilities which could be used by everyone, including children, young people and adults, picnic area, new equipment wish list included: swings, slide, roundabout, climbing frame/wall, outdoor gym equipment. Improved drainage for all year round use.
All of the information was used to submit a Stage One bid to the Big Lottery for their Reaching Communities Scheme. This summer the Big Lottery confirmed that the project proposal had been approved for a Stage Two application.
Before that can be submitted for the project, the Conservative-controlled West Somerset Council, Minehead Eye and Somerset Rural Youth Project need to carry out further consultations with the community to confirm the types of equipment and activities the community would like to see on the site so the consultation is being held on October 2.