Ref: tn_11905
Date: 7th December 2005

Lilford gets set for Play!

One of Wigan Borough’s most picturesque parks is set to become a hub of fun activity following the completion of work on an £110,000 play facility.

The new under-12’s play area at Lilford Park will be officially open by the Mayor, Councillor Brian Jarvis, on Wednesday 14th December. Children from The Avenue Day Nursery, who will be testing the equipment out and demonstrating how it works, will assist the Mayor at the ceremony.

The new play area will offer something for all children 12 years-old and under, regardless of their physical ability. Exciting developments on the site include:
• Nest Swing – enabling less physically able children and their carers to sit on the same swing
• Cradle seats
• Sand Works Unit
• Tower slide
• Supernova
• Tornado

“This marks the start of a significant improvement plan for Lilford Park, which the Leigh Township Forum are pleased to be working on, in partnership with Wigan Council and Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust,” says Pam Stewart, Joint Chair of Leigh Township Forum. “We have aspirations for better parking facilities, a new Park Ranger Station/Office, Environment Class Room, Sports Zone, informal recreation area, Arboretum and improved wildlife habitats. This will require a considerable amount of funding, but the Forum and Trust are quietly confident that by working together we can bring about significant improvements to Lilford Park for the people of Leigh and visitors to the area.”

The improvement of the borough’s parks is fundamental to the Trust’s vision Getting Wigan Active. The trust is working hard towards improving and maintaining play facilities across the borough, which it is hoped will increase the amount of physical activity in young children.

Deborah Freeman, the trust’s Community Regeneration Manager for Play and Early Years says, “The new play facility involved a considerable amount of work, which was carried out in several phases to ensure children always had access to play equipment. The Trust is pleased to have delivered this exciting project in partnership with the Leigh Township Forum. This marks the first of several projects that Trust will be working on with the Forum.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org. Alternatively, contact Andrew Sharrock, Township Manager, on 01942 776164.

Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support Leisure and Cultural facilities, initiatives and events for 300,000 residents across the Wigan Borough.

Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is WLCT’s vision to ensure that people across the Wigan Borough have the opportunity to become more physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good citizenship.

The Play ‘In Out team are an outreach team created by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust to provide play activities for children.


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