A HARDWORKING community group which has made tremendous efforts to improve a play park in Tavistock last week appealed for funds to complete the project. The Rev Joanna Abecassis, secretary of Greenlands Tenants and Residents? Association, said the playing fields at Greenlands fell into disrepair many years ago, leaving youngsters with no recreational facilities in the area. Joanna said: ?The children had no option but to play on the streets and verges, which was both dangerous and causing a nuisance to neighbours. There was nowhere for their parents or older adults to sit and chat.? Joanna said as a result of a lot of hard work by the community at Greenlands, the residents? association has managed to secure three large grants totalling some £16,000, thanks to support from West Devon Homes, the Devon Community Foundation and West Devon Borough Council. The money has enabled the association to fence the field, lease it from West Devon Homes and install play equipment selected by the children on the estate. ?Certainly, a great deal of love and care and hard work on the part of the residents, especially the committee, has gone into it and that is typical of this association as a whole, which exists to enhance this community for the benefit of all who live here.? Joanna last week asked members of Tavistock Town Council?s finance committee if the authority could help the association with the last task needed to finish the play park ? a path to make access easier for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Tavistock mayor Jenny Metcalf said: ?It?s the most beautifully situated play park in the country, with a wonderful view across Dartmoor. The local residents have put a huge amount of work in and they would appreciate a grant from us.? And she felt practically, the work should be completed before the winter set in. Cllr Martin Taylor suggested councillors should make a site visit to Greenlands. ?I think this sort of self-help needs to be encouraged and a site visit by members would be helpful,? he said. Town clerk Roger Howard told the committee the association needed around £2,000 to complete the path. Cllr Anne Johnson suggested the association should contact the National Lottery?s Awards for All programme, which gives small grants to community projects. Councillors agreed a site visit should take place before any decision was made on a grant.
