No new equipment for Thatcham play area

Other areas around Thatcham considered to have greater need in order to 'spread the investment' around the town

ONE Thatcham play area will not be receiving new equipment anytime soon, Thatcham town councillors have agreed.

The view came in response to a request for additional outdoor gym equipment to be installed in Pound Lane.

But the request from the chairman of the Pound Lane Action Group, Gary Johnson, who was a Liberal Democrat councilllor and last year’s town mayor, found no favour among his former colleagues.

Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham north) said: “My feeling is that there are other play areas that could do with this.

“Pound Lane has had quite a lot of investment over the years. I think it would best to spread the investment over the town.”

And Dominic Boeck (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) agreed, saying that there was already very good equipment in the area.

Councillors were recommended to survey the usage of the equipment with the report to be presented when the committee next met.

Jason Collis (Con, Thatcham north) raised the need for other types of play equipment in Thatcham, however.

He said that a resident had raised concerns over a lack of play equipment suitable for disabled children in the town, with the resident having to drive to Tadley to find a suitable playground for her autistic son.

He added that the resident claimed to have never seen anybody using the equipment in Pound Lane.

Sheila Ellison (Con, Thatcham North) suggested that the town council take the matter into account the next time that any play areas in the town needed refurbishing.

Councillors decided to not survey the usage of the Pound Lane equipment.