A NEW £40,000 playpark area for youngsters in Tavistock should be completed by April, following the submission of tenders to equipment manufacturers. At present, the open land behind Courtlands Road and Hessary View only has a basketball hoop and a set of goal-posts. But that is set to change with the installation of a purpose-built play centre, primarily aimed at children between the ages of three and eight. The project is being co-ordinated by Tavistock Town Council, in consultation with the pre-school group and residents in the the Courtlands Road area of town. Council works superintendent Wayne Southall said two tenders have already been submitted for the works — once a further two have been received, the council will go back to the residents and playgroup to see which is their preferred option. Mr Southall said: 'We are looking at things like springers, a multi-play unit, two flat swings and two cradle swings. There will also be a tactile unit, which will be good for children with disabilities.' Mr Southall said another possibility was the installation of 'talking tubes', which are long tubes buried beneath the ground, through which children can talk to each other. The equipment will be able to be used by children with disabilities, and grass safety matting will be installed. The new play area will be fenced in and be situated to the rear of the Tavistock Under 5s playgroup. Mr Southall said: 'This area is probably the last of the open spaces in the town to be developed for children — it's something that's needed looking into. 'We want something that looks nice, that is pretty much vandal-proof and is in keeping with the area.' Mr Southall said he hoped work on the play area could be started by the middle of March, with a view to completion by mid-April. The money for the project had already been set aside by the council during the budget-setting process. Cllr Mandy Govier, chairman of the council's properties committee, said: 'I think it's really good that this project has finally got off the ground after all these years. 'It will really benefit children living in the area, and the pre-school group, and I would like to thank the residents who have worked so hard with the council to get the playpark up and running.' Sue Loomes, who lives in Courtlands Road and who has been working with the council on the project, said: 'It's lovely that it's going ahead now. I've been liaising with the playgroup here for the past couple of years to see if there was anything we could do for the youngsters in the area, and I'm just really pleased it's getting under way. I hope it will be well used.'
