OKEHAMPTON Hamlets Parish Council has agreed to make a grant of almost £7,000 towards its own piece of play equipment for the new play area in Simmons Park. At the meeting of the hamlets last week, councillors agreed to provide funds for a piece of equipment for the junior section of the children?s play area being built on the footprint of the old swimming pool in Simmons Park. Councillors agreed to contribute £6,900 to buy a large slide wire, and said they hoped to place a plaque on the item explaining it was provided by Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council. Derek Webber, chairman of Okehampton Hamlets said: ?Our main objective in giving the money is to recognise that the play area is there to be used by the whole of Okehampton, including families with young children who live in the Hamlets.? Cllr Webber said the Hamlets was an area with many families with young children and he hoped the play area combined with the new leisure centre would draw lots of people to Simmons Park. Cllr Christine Marsh, chair of Okehampton Town Council parks committee which has spent around £100,000 ? mainly coming from this year?s Waitrose bonus receipts ? on the junior phase of the play park welcomed the Hamlets? support. She said: ?I am overwhelmed by their generosity and the support they have shown.? Work is already underway on the project and it is hoped the area will be officially opened within the next couple of weeks.