Christchurch play areas set for handover to parish council after £1.2m revamp

THREE play areas are set to be transferred to Highcliffe and Walkford Parish Council to maintain their upkeep.

BCP Council is proposing to hand over Highcliffe recreation ground, Bluebell Close and Mudeford Wood play areas.

The playgrounds were recently refurbished under a £1.2m investment by BCP Council in which new play equipment was installed and older items overhauled. At Highcliffe recreation ground a multi-use games area for football and basketball was created.

Cllr Bob Hutchings, chair of Highcliffe and Walkford Parish Council, said: “I welcome the proposed transfer of the recreation ground in Highcliffe together with the play areas in Bluebell Close and Mudeford Wood.

“The parish council is fully committed to ensuring that children in the parish have somewhere safe to play and that the recreation ground can continue to provide a safe venue for our young footballers.

“We have worked hard with BCP Council over the past months to arrange this potential transfer of responsibility and we look forward to seeing the recreation ground used even more fully in the years ahead.”

The transfer will be confirmed later, and BCP Council’s cabinet member for environment, cleansing and waste, Cllr Mark Anderson, added: “I am pleased that we are proactively considering the best way to manage these facilities going forward.

“These play areas and open spaces are vital in allowing our children to get outside, get active and have a great time playing with their peers, which is especially important during these difficult times.”