£200k plan for Newmarket's memorial hall gardens play area

Newmarket Town Council is close to unveiling ambitious plans to re-vamp the town's popular memorial hall gardens play area.

At the town's annual meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Amy Starkey, vice-chairman of the council's community service committee, who has been working closely on the project with fellow councillors Robert Nobbs and Michael Jefferys, said she hoped the new play area would be open by next Easter.

"We have been speaking to the children in the town and asking them what they want to see improved and what they would like to see in the gardens," she said.

Themes suggested include kings, queens and horses.

Cllr Starkey said the project would be extensive and expensive but the authority had been ring fencing money through its cash reserves for the past three years and had more than £200,000 to spend on the project.

"We will need some additional funding but we are working as hard as we can to secure the extra money we need," she said.

Recently the council carried out a survey of the gardens to assess what could be done and have consulted with local youngsters through schools assemblies and school council meetings.

At Tuesday's town council meeting, members agreed a recommendation to appoint Massey and Harris as providers of new play equipment. The long established firm has worked with councils, schools and other public bodies across the country and its projects include a football inspired play area in Manchester city centre.

They have also appointed Mia Witham as the project designer.

"We are really looking forward to sharing our exciting ideas for the gardens with the people of Newmarket at the earliest opportunity," said Cllr Starkey.