Local councillor welcomes new play area in Harehills

2.09.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 3rd Jul 2008

Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Taylor welcomes plans to spend £120,000 on play facilities in his ward.

Leeds City Council is set to spend £820,000 of Big Lottery Award money on designing and building eight new and refurbished play areas throughout Leeds. This development will be rolled out over a three year period.

One of the first sites to benefit will be Harehills Park, which will see £120,000 spent this year and next on refurbishing the existing play facilities. Each of the new play areas will cater for 3 to 12 year olds and boast new, safe, wood or metal play equipment and rubber safety surfacing to avoid playground injuries.

The sites will be accessible to all, with access paths fully suitable for wheelchair users and other disabled members of the community.

Cllr Alan Taylor (Lib Dem, Gipton & Harehills), deputy Executive Board member for Leisure, commented:

"I am very pleased that Harehills Park is to be refurbished in this way and look forward to the work getting underway. This site will particularly benefit from the increased investment. The existing play area is looking very run down and parents have commented on the outdated facilities.

It is fantastic that the Council has chosen to spend lottery money in this way to benefit the local community. It will be a great opportunity for the children in this area to play, have fun and get healthy out in the fresh air."