A POPULAR Winchester playground will be closed for six months whilst it is updated.
Winchester City Council has announced that the planned refurbishment of Abbey Gardens playground will begin on Monday, September 5.
Improvement works to Abbey Gardens play area will be completed in two phases. The first phase will involve replacing the existing path and removal of all play equipment and surfacing. Phase two will include the installation of new play equipment, surfacing and seating.
The play area will be closed for approximately six months whilst works are underway. The refurbishments are based off of feedback from public consultations that invited playground users to say what they’d like to see in their play area.
Leading on the recent public consultation, Cllr Charles Radcliffe, councillor for the St Michael ward said: “Our plans to improve the Abbey Gardens play area are now underway. The recent public consultation attracted feedback from many local children, parents and carers, and the final design of the playground should reflect their input. This has been an excellent example of collaboration in action, with special thanks to our local council officers who went to great lengths to capture the views of so many local residents, including some of our youngest ones.”
Cllr Paula Ferguson, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, added: “I’m really pleased to see this refurbishment getting underway. Abbey Gardens is such an important playground for so many children and families. The proposed improvements will make the playground both more accessible and a fresh and exciting place to play.”
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Alternative playgrounds to use whilst Abbey Gardens is closed include Friary Gardens (SO23 9J) a 10-minute walk away and Orams Arbour (SO22 5BU) a 16-minute walk from Abbey Gardens.
The refurbishment is part of the council’s play area improvements programme. Works to the play areas at North Walls and KGV are also due to take place in the coming year.
The public consultation took place in June and July both on site and online.
For more information go to: https://www.winchester.gov.uk/community-recreation/open-spaces/abbey-gardens-and-abbey-house
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