£200k boost for play areas

Thousands of children across south Staffordshire are to get more opportunities to play after the area won a grant of £200,000 to spend on new facilities.

New play areas and clubs are to be created across the district following the cash boost from the Big Lottery Fund.

South Staffordshire District Council said it plans to revolutionise much-needed facilities across the region. A multi-use games court is to be built in Perton, while the Giggety estate in Wombourne is also to get a special area for its youngsters.

An old playground in Brook Lane, Great Wyrley, is to get a facelift with new equipment for younger children to use.

Five play rangers will be employed to work across the south of the county, operating clubs for young people.

Council bosses predict the projects will benefit at least 11,360 children aged three to 18 in just three years.

Councillor Robert Marshall, deputy leader community services for South Staffordshire Council, said he was delighted to hear the grant, which was applied for just three months ago, had been successful.

He said: "This is wonderful, long-awaited news.

"There have been tremendous efforts across the district for over 12 months to complete this application and I am extremely happy to hear the announcement of the award.

"It means the district of south Staffordshire will have new play areas and many new play opportunities created."

The award has come in support of the recently published Play Strategy for South Staffordshire, where children and adults were asked how they would like to use their spare time and what facilities they would like to see brought to the area.

The cash was initially allocated last year but officers had to put together a detailed explanation of how it was to be used in order to unlock it.