A CHILDREN’S play park is set to be given a £100,000 refit by Wellington Town Council thanks to money received from housing developers.

Councillors will be asked on Monday (July 4) to appoint Chippenham-based Redlynch Leisure to carry out the 14-week project.

It will be the first update of the council-owned Tonedale play area for around 30 years, other than the installation in the early 2000s of a multi-use hard surface games area.

The council plans to cover the cost from its community infrastructure levy funds – money which housing developers have to pay when building houses outside the main built-up areas of the town.

The play area, which is accessed either from Richards Close or a narrow pathway opposite Tonedale’s One Stop store, will have its existing roundabout, slide, swings, and monkey bars removed and recycled.

Assistant clerk Alice Kendall said new installations would be environmentally friendly and include a wheelchair accessible roundabout, a slide with additional climbing elements, a double bay swing set with flat seat swings, and a basket swing.

An enclosed toddler area with two self-closing gates will be created for the first time with its own bench, slide, springer, and cradle swings.

There will also be a new activity trail including items such as balance beams, rope bridge, stepping posts, and monkey bar type swings at the top end of the park.

Wellington town and county Cllr Marcus Barr, who was on the shortlisting panel for the refurbishment project, told the Wellington Weekly: “It is a much-needed improvement for Tonedale and the start of many exciting changes to come for Wellington. I hope more children will want to use the new equipment and more families will be encouraged to come and have picnics here.”

Town Cllr Mike McGuffie, who chairs the committee which developed the scheme, said: “We hope children and parents will really enjoy the new playground equipment.”

Cllr McGuffie, added: “More than just replacing the old, tired looking equipment, we are also adding a separate parent and toddler area.

“We also intend to add a wildlife area in the corner of the open space and hope the new play park provides fun for all abilities and ages for many years to come.

“I would like to thank the town council staff who have worked very hard developing the plans for the play area and getting quotes from suppliers.”

The multi-use basketball/ball games pitch will remain in situ because it is still in good condition but will be given a thorough clean.

A new path with an interactive design is also proposed to connect the play equipment with the tarmac entrance at Richards Close to help provide refuge from muddy ground at the lower end of the park.

Mrs Kendall said all the new equipment would be constructed from wood or recycled plastic.

She said over the estimated 25-year lifespan of the new play equipment the investment averaged out at £64.61 a week, which was considered good value for money.

Design of the new park has been influenced by feedback from Tonedale residents who were consulted in March when councillors delivered a survey to almost every home.