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13
Aug
Construction begins on new Boroughbridge games area
A new multi-use games area is expected to open in Boroughbridge by the end of the year.
Work began on Monday last week (August 5) on the play area, which is located at the recreation ground on Wetherby Road.
With the backing of Boroughbridge Town Council, Cllr Peter Phillips and Councillor Pauline Phillips, who is also the town mayor, have helped secure funding for the project.
The multi-use games area will be an enclosed play space for ball games and other activities that benefit from a tarmac hard surface underfoot.
It will have a durable hard surface marked out for football and basketball games. Some play equipment may be relocated for the project, and it is hoped the junior area will also be enhanced.
Boroughbridge recreation ground was left to the town council in 1924 by a town mill owners for the sole purpose of recreation. The site has been upgraded over the years, but this is the first major addition in nearly 20 years.
The project is funded by money developers have contributed to the town as mitigation for the impact of building new homes in the area.
Planned Multi Use Games Area
Boroughbridge Town Council updated its website to announce the news. It said:
It is an exciting venture that will improve facilities for the young people of Boroughbridge.
The town council is keen to give young people in the locality this deserved improvement to the play spaces.
The new facility will provide a safe area to play ball games on a flat fenced-in area. It is supported by local schools, youth agencies and the police.
Boroughbridge Town Council said:
The work was delayed due to issues related to the ownership of the land with North Yorkshire Council. But thanks to the tenacity and hard work of a small working group of councillors headed up by our town's mayor Cllr Pauline Phillips all the issues were resolved successfully. The delays were unfortunate as we had hoped to have the multi-use games area up and running for this year's summer holidays
The town council launched a consultation process in the autumn of 2023 which included involvement of our local schools, online information, including the use of social media and a poster campaign.
All received good support. A tender process was then launched with Kompan being chosen as the preferred contractor based on value for money and robustness. Funding for this new facility is solely from commuted sums money, a legal agreement that commits developers to contribute towards . Therefore this comes at no cost to our ratepayers
The work is expected to last four to six weeks. Once completed the plan is to upgrade the younger children's play area.
The venture comes after news of a proposed new sports village on the edge of Boroughbridge, at Aldborough Gate.
Earlier this year the Stray Ferret revealed that local gym owner Darren Sadler and Boroughbridge Town Council were behind the scheme, which has yet to proceed to a formal planning application.
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