We embarked on the Play Area refurbishment project for the Common (Recreational ground) back in January 2020 when we earmarked £10,000 towards the project. This followed by adding a further £10,000 in April 2020 and £30,000 in April 2021, giving £50,000 in total.
The Play Area Advisory Committee was formed in March 2020 and was to consist of up to 5 Councillors and up to 3 residents, with residents being invited to join. Unfortunately, only 1 resident volunteered but left again soon after. The committee as present includes Cllr Raper (Chair), Cllr Lee-Woolfe, Cllr Davis and Cllr Plasom.
As this was due to be a significant spend (in excess of £25k), the tender had to be placed on the Government Contract Finders website. CBC helped with the tender document and published it on Contract Finders on our behalf. No bids were received. CBC then contacted companies directly to understand why they hadn’t placed a bid, but no comments were forthcoming. CBC therefore advised us to contact suppliers directly.
A number of suppliers were contacted, and 2 supplied bids.
The Play Area Advisory Committee met on the 11th November 2021 to review the bids and have chosen one of the designs for recommendation to Full Council. This will be reviewed at the next Full Council meeting on the 6th December 2021.
The proposal includes the following:
- Replacing the surface under the Junior Multiplay unit, Junior Roundabout and Toddler 4-way springer
- Removing the existing swing set and installing 3 new swing sets:
- 1 bay 2 seat Junior swing (ages 3+)
- 1 bay Pod swing (ages 2+)
- 1 bay 2 seat Toddler swing (ages 1+)
- Removing the existing Toddler Multiplay unit and replacing it with a Diablo Multiplay unit that is suitable for 2 age groups (ages 2-10)
- Removing the Rocker Dog and Rocker seesaw and replacing with a Tree Frogs Springer (ages 2+)
- Replacing the Toddler plastic carousel with a Low Platform Roundabout (ages 3+)
- Adding a Cableway (ages 4+)
The play equipment will be grouped together by ages, with the toddler area being shown in red on the design.
If the PC agree the recommendation, the play area will be out of action for several weeks whilst the work takes place, and we are looking for the work to be completed by the Easter holidays.
The display board 2021 11 22 Common display board will hopefully be visible in the following locations over the next couple of weeks: Aspley Guise Lower School. Swallowfields Lower School, Fulbrook’s, Aspley Guise Village Hall and Aspley Guise Scout Hut.
