A village play area has failed its annual safety inspection bringing into sharp focus the urgent need to raise funds to renovate it.
The Jubilee Play Area in Threlkeld has been locked up and swings removed by Westmorland and Furness Council.
Fundraisers are currently seeking to raise £80,000 towards the renovation of the dilapidated play area in the village.
The team leading the project, which was launched by Threlkeld Toddlers and the village parish council, say they have a plan in place which will see a park containing modern play equipment and better safety surfacing opened in 2024.
The project was conceived following the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and the intention is to name the play area The Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Play Area.
The June meeting of Threlkeld Parish Council heard that Westmorland and Furness Council is willing to potentially repair one piece of equipment, but it is unlikely that the swings are going to be replaced.
The clerk is to speak to the council about why notification relating to the inspection had not been conveyed to the parish council.
It was noted by Threlkeld Toddlers that the council has pledged verbally to continue the maintenance and inspection responsibilities of any new equipment and to provide public liability insurance.
A request has been made by Threlkeld Toddlers for the council to confirm this in writing.
Fundraising for the park has been going well with several applications for grants being submitted in June and the total pledged or received so far amounts to around £43,000. Donations include £77.50 from the village’s coffee shop bucket, an anonymous local donation of £1,000 while children from the village primary school raised £600 from a sponsored walk while contributions keep coming in from Just Giving page (www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/playareathrelkeld) that has been set up.