Cannock Chase revamp planned
More than £1.5 million could be spent on improvements across Cannock Chase district by 2012.
Councillors are set to approve a plan for the district council to spend the cash on enhancing play areas across the district and providing new facilities.
By far the biggest amount of money to be spent by the council is £746,000, which will be handed over to housing associations to encourage them to develop affordable houses.
This money has come from the sale of vacant one-bedroom council-owned bungalows, which are difficult to rent out, and the proceeds from right to buy sales.
The remaining cash is from Section 106 money, paid to the council by developers as part of legal deals to offset the impact of their projects.
Money from developers is usually earmarked to make improvements to the local community but can also be spent on transport schemes, education and health.
Among the schemes to be discussed by the council's ruling cabinet was a £562,000 cash injection to provide all weather pitches across the district.
Other schemes include £53,000 being spent on Cannock park, £84,000 to re-locate the Arthur Street Play Area in Wimblebury and £26,000 to refurbish the Bridgtown Union Street play area.
A number of the projects were due to be completed this financial year but in a report to the cabinet, officers said that some schemes had been delayed.
During 2008/09 more than £600,000 worth of projects should have been completed. The council has said it plans to spend £395,000 by the end of the financial year – meaning £210,000 worth of projects will not be completed.
