Olympic-inspired play plan

A popular Fylde park is just weeks away from employing builders to start work on a £400,000 play area – with ideas inspired by some parts of the Olympic Park in London.
Seated left Andrea Gillet, Cath Powell Ted Charnley  Standing Chris Hazledene & Emma HogarthSeated left Andrea Gillet, Cath Powell Ted Charnley  Standing Chris Hazledene & Emma Hogarth
Seated left Andrea Gillet, Cath Powell Ted Charnley Standing Chris Hazledene & Emma Hogarth

Work to build the sand and water play area at Park View in Lytham is expected to start in the new year once a contractor has been appointed.

Park View organiser Cath Powell said the charity has spent the past few weeks visiting leisure sites across the country to take inspiration for the project – including the Olympic Park for the 2012 games in London.

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She said: “We are on with the tendering process. It’s all very exciting.

Olympic Rings at the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park, LondonOlympic Rings at the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park, London
Olympic Rings at the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park, London

“The closing date is the middle of January. We have invited six companies to do the work.

“It is going to be up in no time once the chosen contractor starts.

“It will be incredible. I have spent time visiting other places including the Olympic Park. All I can say is everything will be the best.”

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The £400,000 grant was given to the park in August as part of the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund.

The area will be landscaped in a seaside theme and will be used to deliver school education and activities about the natural surroundings of the coast, along with a café, creating 11 jobs.

Cath added: “The site will be the best in the country – others will not compare.

“It will be bigger than other areas with more to do with sand and water play.

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“I have visited Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, Manchester, Yorkshire, Leicestershire and the Lakes to take ideas from each place.”

The charity had originally planned to build the play area on the former mussel tanks on Lytham foreshore, but lost out on the bid to the Lytham St Annes Civic Society’s small scale bid.

In March, the council’s Community Focus Scrutiny Committee met to review the two plans, and backed a scheme which looks to celebrate the history of Lytham Green, the RNLI, shipping and the town’s fishing industry.

The decision was then rubber-stamped by the council.