Vision of £100,000 play park

This picture shows an artist's impression of a brand new, £100,000 play park which will be created in Whitchurch.

Work to build the facility off Wayland Road started this week with the delivery of equipment for the park.

The project was carried out by a team of volunteers, who raised the money over a two-year period, and it was aimed at providing activity for children in the area and keeping them off the streets.

Community Support Officer Tim Meredith, who spearheaded the project, said 80 to 90 children from Wayland Road had been involved, and had been consulted at every stage of the process about the kind of facility they wanted.

The new park will include a large structure with nets, slides, climbing frames and bridges, as well as a bird's nest swing.

The park has been dedicated to the memory of 10-year-old Jamie Evans, from Whitchurch, who died in January 2007.

Rob Hewson, Whitchurch town councillor, was on the organising committee and said he was proud to be part of the scheme.

Organisers hope the park can be built within about two months.