Work on £300,000 Top-notch Play Park on a Roll in Clitheroe

The park near the banks of the River Ribble is part of a £750,000 scheme aimed at putting the borough’s 18 public play areas at the top of the ladder by 2027.

Work at the Salthill and Hawthorne Place play areas in Clitheroe and John Smith’s play area in Longridge has been completed, and contractors have now started constructing a whole new play area at the former pitch and putt site at Edisford.

The park, being delivered by play area specialist Wicksteed, will feature age-specific zones linked by a central path and a range of accessible features for wheelchair and pushchair-users.

Standout features include a funky HMS Edisford play boat and a Pendle Hill Tower – a multi-level structure incorporating a fast slide, spiral tube slide, climbing nets, angled walls and suspended rope hammock, along with interactive woodland themed panels designed to promote physical activity, coordination and social interaction.

There will also be a 20-metre zip wire, rock-scape and agility trail for older children.

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s play area cash boost is part of a £6.7million bonanza for sports, leisure and recreation facilities in the council’s most ambitious capital programme since it was formed in 1974.

As well as an upgrade to Ribblesdale Swimming Pool, a raft of new features at Clitheroe Castle, including £550,000 of improvements to the castle keep, and new all-weather sports pitches at sites to be confirmed, every one of the borough’s 18 council-owned play areas is receiving improvements and in some cases, such as Salthill in Clitheroe and John Smith’s in Longridge, a complete revamp, while a whole new play area is being built at Edisford.

Stuart Hirst, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s community services committee, said:

“Given local government reorganisation, we decided to be ambitious with our capital programme, by reducing five-year schedules to two and bringing forward some schemes already approved in principle.

 

“Our reserves have been modestly accrued over many years and councillors across the chamber were united in their view that they be spent entirely for the benefit of the borough’s current and future residents.

 

"Edisford is a popular visitor destination and we have exciting plans for its development, starting with this standout play park, which generations of children will be able to enjoy for years to come.”

Edisford is a popular visitor destination, attracting thousands of visitors a year to its many attractions, including a miniature railway and scenic riverside walks.

There is also a Changing Places toilet – one of the first in the country – specially designed for people living with severe disability, featuring hoists, curtains, showers, grab rails, adult-sized changing benches, privacy screens and space for carers.

Work on the Edisford Bridge Play Park scheme is expected to be completed by September.