CRAVEN District Council (CDC) is inviting residents to air their views on proposals to spend up to £200,000 on a new children’s play area at Aireville Park.

A consultation event is taking place in the park on November 12 from 9.30am to early afternoon and draft designs will be on display at Craven Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre and visitors to the park will be asked for feedback.

Fiona Protheroe, chairperson of Friends of Aireville Park, said: “We are so thrilled with the new draft designs, and are really looking forward to hearing what other parents and children think about them. 

“We are also going to need lots of support to fundraise for the new equipment, and would be very happy to talk to people at the consultation about how they can help.”

Funding for the scheme, which is likely to be in the region of £150,000 to £200,000, includes planning gain funds from both the Granville Street development and other housing sites, as as well as money raised locally.

CDC has appointed Newground, an award-winning social enterprise, to produce an initial play area design, carry out public consultation and produce a final design for the new play area. 

Space selected to locate the new play area is at the top of the park, close to Craven Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre, using the grass area above and past the disused band stand. 

Councillor Linda Brockbank, lead member for Working With Communities, said: “We’ve asked Newground to produce plans for a natural play area that will work with the space, landscape and park features.

“They have come up with some very exciting initial designs and we look forward to hearing residents’ views, which will help develop the plans. We’ve already begun to make the park a fantastic destination, with the construction of the skatepark and pump track, and a new play area will be another great facility for children and young people.”

Newground was the designer of the Cononley play area, supported by CDC with officer time, a grant and planning gain funds.

Friends of Aireville Park have already raised £12,000 of funds from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme, and the group aims to raise more cash to make the play space as vibrant and exciting as possible.

The plans will be available online at cravendc.gov.uk/airevilleparkplay along with a survey for residents to complete, giving their views.