A GENEROUS donation of £50,000 has been agreed by Tavistock Town Council for a project at The Meadows play park.

The news was announced last week that the town council had listened to feedback from concerned parents over the state of the park’s floor and agreed to do something about its condition.

Five years ago the Meadows Makeover group was formed to fundraise for park equipment and over the years £20,000 has been raised thanks to the support from local residents, Tavistock Lions Club and Tavistock Round Table.

New equipment, installed by the town council, includes a zip wire, a new toddler area, trampoline, bins, seating, a new shelter, a large wooden ship and a disabled friendly roundabout.

However, the group was not able to raise enough money needed to replace the surface in the park with wet pour flooring and they chose a cheaper substitute. The flooring has since been an issue with parents who have remarked that it is permanently muddy and unsuitable for their children.

But, last week it was announced that the town council had listened to feedback and agreed to fund the £50,000 project.

Mia Alaoui, one of the founding members of the Meadows Makeover team along with Keri Pierce, said she was thrilled that the town council had listened to feedback and had agreed to fund the project so at Easter there would be a new floor covering in the play park and children could play, come rain or shine.

‘The material the council put down originally was far cheaper and was more fitting to the environment — but after it was put down it was clear it wasn’t suitable and didn’t work,’ she said.

‘The town council has been aware for around six months that the flooring wasn’t suitable and that there has been a problem and it has been busy trying to work out a solution — the town council has come to the rescue and listened to the public.

‘We will have wet pour flooring which is the same flooring that is around the roundabout in the park.

‘The Meadows is the hub of the town and with the new café coming, it will bring more people to the town.’

Wayne Southall, general manager for the town council, said the council had been able to secure funds for wet pour to be placed in the fenced toddler area and in the area of five other pieces of equipment which had been impaired in their usage due to the wet ground conditions and ineffectiveness of the original grass matting surfacing.

‘This will provide a solution which will mean that the park can be enjoyed throughout the year by locals and visitors to the area,’ he said.

‘The aim is that the new surfacing will be installed in April/May prior to the summer holidays subject to weather conditions. We hope all who visit the area will respect and enjoy the new facilities.’