£100,000 boost for playtime fun

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Playtime fun is to be stepped up thanks to a £100,000-plus cash boost to community projects. Funds handed over by housing developers are being released across East Durham to help cover the costs of park improvements, along with new changing rooms and a scheme to cut antisocial behaviour. Approval of the applications was one of the last ADVERTISEMENTjobs completed by Easington District Council's development control committee at its final meeting this month. A gathering of the full council has since rubber-stamped their approval. The biggest of the projects is at Seaham Town Park, which is to undergo a £217,000 revamp by the town council. Applications for grants have been submitted, with the district council agreeing to give £17,000 towards the programme. Once all the money is secured and planning permission granted, new equipment to replace ageing pieces will be installed, surfaces renewed and landscaping carried out. The aim of the scheme to turn the park into a "honey pot", attracting local people and visitors. Another Seaham project to benefit from the cash is the Yellow Brick Road, a path linking Dawdon and Parkside with the town centre. The Ropery Walk end of the route has become plagued by vandals and youths, and it is hoped clearing some of the land, new railings, bollards, paving and kerbing will deter troublemakers. More than £50,000 has already been set aside in the district council's regeneration budget, and a further £27,000 has been awarded to allow work to begin once planning consent is given and a contractor appointed. Both grants were awarded from a fund of £72,260 put aside by the developers of eight housing estates in the town, with a further £44,740 to be received from future builds. South Hetton Parish Council has been given £13,000 to allow it to carry out an upgrade of the children's play area next to Ravensworth Court in the village. A sum of £55,000 has already been allocated to the recreational area, leaving a further £35,250 available to spend in the village. Horden Memorial Park is to also benefit from £7,500-worth of improvements, with the parish council given a further £10,500 to add to £33,000 of funding it has already secured to buy equipment to be used during events at site. It intends to buy a bouncy castle, inflatables and slides, crash mats, a marquee and sports field equipment, with more cash being sought. Other projects to benefit through money allocated were almost £14,000 to replace changing rooms at Blackhall Welfare Park and £10,646 for a children's play area in Lilac Crescent, Trimdon.