All kids at heart... children and councillors having fun at the new play park in Beer

Fun in the sun at Beer’s new play park

Local children and parents came along to the East Devon District Council (EDDC) Family Fun Day at Ash Hill Play Park in Beer on Monday 29 July.

As part of the day the £17,500 improvements to the play area were officially opened. The Chairman of Beer Parish Council, Martin Richards, cut the ribbon and declared the enhanced play area open and ready for fun.

The new equipment in the play area was chosen by local children and consists of a new basket swing, a spinning item, climbing frame and wooden amphitheatre style seating.

In addition to the new equipment children were able on Monday to have a go at circus skills or arts and crafts as part of a Family Fun Day - all for free and provided by EDDC Community Development Workers Polly and Victoria.

Designed for the community, by the community

The project is the result of a close working relationship between Beer Parish Council and EDDC. Local children decided what the £17,500 worth of eagerly anticipated improvements to the play area should look like.

The sum of £7,500 was contributed by developers through Section 106 funding for play. This type of contribution was a condition of planning approval for a number of developments in the area. EDDC have the groundbreaking policy of inviting residents to decide how this is spent. Beer Parish Council then successfully applied for £10,000 of Awards for All funding from the National Lottery to add to the Section 106 funds.

The opening was attended by Beer Parish Councillor Martin Cox, who has spearheaded the project to improve the play area, he commented: “It has taken the commitment of many people to make this a successful project. It is clear from the obvious enjoyment of the children in using the equipment that it has all been well worth the effort”.

Councillor Christine Drew, EDDC’s Champion for Children and Young People, said: “Thank you to all the children who had their say and chose the play area. I’m looking forward to seeing the play area used a lot more now it has been vastly improved”.