Better play thanks to £2m works

Richmond upon Thames Council has invested £500,000 a year over four years in the playground scheme and in total 31 play areas will have been refurbished with four more newly built when the initiative is finished.

To date 24 sites have been improved, with three new play areas at Radnor Gardens in Strawberry Hill, Cambridge Gardens in St Margarets and Jubilee Gardens on Twickenham Riverside.

The council is going out to tender shortly for work at eight remaining locations, with refurbishment work due at seven existing playgrounds and a brand new play area planned for Nursery Green in Hampton.

The playgrounds set for refurbishment are Craneford Way in Twickenham, Palewell Common in East Sheen, Moormead Park in St Margarets, Mullins Path in Mortlake, Hatherop Park and Carlisle Park in Hampton and Kingsfield in Hampton Wick.

The council hopes to have all the playgrounds operational by the school summer holidays and all sites include a wide range of play equipment suitable for both able bodied and disabled youngsters.

Cllr David Marlow, Richmond council cabinet member for environment and planning, said: "This council puts great emphasis on the quality of its playgrounds. That is why a huge improvement programme was launched to upgrade facilities. We're providing a tremendous range of play equipment and, of course, safety is absolutely vital and all the play areas have been designed with this in mind.

"We have also consulted closely with residents to ensure the new and refurbished play areas are in line with their needs. This is all part of our ongoing drive under the Civic Pride programme to ensure playgrounds here are among the best."

Once the project is completed, nearly 80 per cent of the borough's playgrounds will meet the Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAP) standard the national criteria for play areas.

Cllr Marlow added that less than half our the borough's playgrounds were up to standard when the scheme started four years ago.