WORK TO START ON NEW PLAYZONE

 Children in Erewash are to get a thrilling new state-of-the-art £400,000 play area – thanks to residents telling the council what it should look like. Work on constructing the borough’s biggest fun zone for toddlers and juniors is poised to get under way within weeks after the town hall’s Greenspace Team came up with two competing designs and asked local people to vote for their favourite. The winner – which was “Option One” – will include bridges and slides, one of which is a nine metre-high twisting tube. A separate play zone for children aged five and under features a rocking boat and a “3D rubber shark”. Erewash council has clinched government levelling up money to fund the project in Long Eaton’s West Park. The brief to designers was to make the attraction “innovative and exciting” – as well as accessible for children with disabilities. Erewash scoured play areas around the country for inspiration. More than 2,300 votes poured in after residents, schools and community groups were asked to pick their preferred design. The council’s Planning Committee formally gave the OK to it on Wednesday 1 May – clearing the way for existing play equipment at the site to be removed. Some of the old equipment will be refurbished and relocated – meaning other playgrounds across the borough will also benefit. Construction of the new play area is set to start in June or July and is predicted to take from six to eight weeks. Money for it is coming from what is known as the Shared Prosperity Fund. West Park’s café and other facilities will remain open during the building work, although the Splashpad may have to close for short periods. If that happens, information will be posted via social media. Erewash Borough Council Leader Cllr James Dawson said: “We went through a rigorous tendering and selection process to come up with two brilliant designs – and residents have picked a clear favourite. Children in the borough will soon have a fantastic place to spend time having fun while keeping fit and active.”