Work delayed on Victoria Park play area

Having initially been due to close yesterday (Monday), the play area will now close to the public tomorrow (Wednesday)

WORK to replace the existing play area in Victoria Park, Newbury, will now start tomorrow (Wednesday), it has been confirmed.

The children's play area in Victoria Park was due to close to the public yesterday (Monday) for a period of about six weeks to allow the removal of the existing play facility and installation of a new play area, complete with brand new equipment such as a Mega Tower and cantilever basket swing.

However, an unforeseen delay on a separate project meant the building contractors were unable to start work on the Newbury project yesterday, giving children and their parents a couple of days reprieve.

But Newbury Town Council services manager, Granville Taylor, said work was now due to start tomorrow morning (Wednesday), leaving both the play area and skate park out of action for several weeks, much to the dismay of local parents during the Easter holidays.

Mr Taylor said, however, that the recent delay over a funding decision from the Government's Playbuilder scheme meant this was the only time the play area project could be done to fit in with the builders' schedule.

He said he understood people's disappointment at not being able to use the facilities during the Easter holidays, although he said there were plenty of other play areas in and around Newbury, adding that people were still able to use the pedaloes on the pond in Victoria Park.

Meanwhile, Mr Taylor said the work would now also fit in with the ongoing skate park project, therefore consolidating the disruption to the park.

He said: “We want to get it all done in one go if we can, rather than having more lorries coming in for another stint.

“The timing is unfortunate, but the aim is to have it all open by the Bank holiday at the end of May and unfortunately, you cannot make an omelette without breaking an egg.”