Village play area gets upgrade thanks to funding secured by Braintree District Council

Kelvedon Recreation Ground with Chair of Kelvedon Parish Council and Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure at Braintree District Council standing in the play area -  Image

A popular play area in Kelvedon has been newly refurbished thanks to money secured through various nearby housing developments.

Work has recently been completed at Kelvedon Recreation Ground, on land owned by Kelvedon Parish Council, which has seen improvements to play facilities including new equipment in the toddler area, floor trampoline and see saw for children and families of all ages to enjoy.

A total of just over £79,000 was given to the project from what is known as Section 106 funding, money that is secured by the council from developers who are building locally to fund improvements for the wider area, from road schemes, new play parks to community facilities.

We worked alongside Kelvedon Parish Council to design the upgrades.

Cllr Gabrielle Spray, Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure at Braintree District Council, said: The planning process plays a key role in helping to enhance community facilities on a wider level and this is a prime example of that. While new homes are needed across the Braintree district, it’s important that the benefits are felt by communities at large, not just those who will be living in new developments.”

Cllr Wendy Schmitt, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and The Environment at Braintree District Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see work complete at this play area. Working alongside the parish council, this investment has enabled us to improve and upgrade the play equipment within the village and hopefully will provide an excellent safe outdoor space for our children to enjoy for many years to come.”

Cllr India Jayatillake, Chair of Kelvedon Parish Council, said: The equipment at Kelvedon Recreation Ground has been in need of an upgrade for a very long time and the toddler area, in particular, has had to be cordoned off for safety reasons for around two years. Kelvedon Parish Council is delighted that we've now been able to undertake the necessary work and we'd like to extend our thanks to Braintree District Council for their help and guidance with this project, particularly in managing the tendering process and conducting site safety inspections as the works progressed.”

Published: 8th April 2022