Councillors to consider investment in outdoor play provision

Hartlepool Borough Council’s Finance and Policy Committee, which meets on Monday (July 22), will consider a request from officers to re-allocate money within the authority’s Neighbourhood Investment Programme (NIP).

In the first instance, it is proposed that £200,000 should be spent on transforming outdoor play provision across the town rather than on the creation of “gateway features” on roundabouts on key routes in and out of the town.

If councillors agree, further work will be carried out to identify additional sources of funding that could be used to supplement the NIP monies.

The proposed new “hubs” will be created by carrying out a range of works to improve and enhance three existing play areas.

One is at Marine Crescent where improvements are planned as part of a wider programme of investment on the town’s Headland, while the other two other sites will be identified in line with the Council’s developing Play Strategy.

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “This is all about the Council recognising that priority needs to be given to the development of safe, well equipped and well maintained play areas that will benefit children across the town.

“I believe it is so important that children are given the opportunity to enjoy the experience of playing outdoors, with all the social and health benefits that it brings.

“Hopefully, members of the Finance and Policy Committee will agree and approve the re-allocation of funding.”

The NIP is a Council an initiative to make money available for a range of improvement works benefitting neighbourhoods across the town.