Stadhampton Play Area Update 30/10/24

To see the revised plans (version 4) see the documents below. You are welcome to e-mail clerk@stadhampton-pc.gov.uk with any comments by 25/11/24. 

Background:

The play area on Stadhampton Village Green has been well used and much loved over the last 15 years but it has reached the end of its life. Any breakages have all been continually repaired to keep the play area safe and happy over the years,  thanks to the diligence of John Pattison, who helped establish and install this first-ever play area and has taken care of the space for all these years – thank you John!

The Process to Fund the New Equipment:

You can see a summary of all the Parish Council decisions below.

It is time to renew the equipment for the next generation, but there were no funds to pay for it.  In September 2023 local resident Jess Edwards volunteered to fund-raise, and subsequently became a Parish Councillor. She has spearheaded applications for grants, to help make the dream come true. Local fundraising has raised an amazing £800.00 so far, thank you to everyone who has contributed.

Two granting organisations opened a grant fund in the Spring, but they had a tight timetable to compete for the grant, and they both required a chosen supplier and design. Three companies submitted designs without knowing any budget levels, and these were considered by the Parish Council from March onward. In May,  Setter were selected to design and supply a beautiful new play area. It not only fits the historical Oxfordshire setting but also includes lots of accessible features for children with reduced mobility or wheelchair dependency – something that is sorely missing in the area.

Grant Success:

Our grateful thanks to the FCC Communities Foundation Impact Fund for a grant of £81,365.57 (net of VAT) that makes this project possible. What a tremendous achievement by Councillor Edwards for the village.  There is work to be done to meet the conditions of the grant, but it gives us hope that a new play area will become a reality.

The contribution required from the Parish Council will use community infrastructure levy (CIL) funds, and therefore will not need to use any local council tax from residents.

Consultation:

A consultation event on the details of the design was held on 16th October 2024 in the Village Hall, with a consultant from Setter giving a presentation and answering questions. A survey was made available online via Facebook and the websites. A leaflet to promote the consultation was delivered to every household in Stadhampton. Thank you to everyone who came and contributed, the comments are attached below.

Feedback:  Following the consultation event, Parish Councillors and residents have worked to scrutinize the feedback which has been incorporated where possible, based on desirability, practicality and potential costs. Version 4 is available to view and comment on until 25/11/24.

The grant has been provisionally accepted.

A note on Setter’s accreditation, warranty and safety is below.

Want to See a Preview? You can visit an example of a Setter play area in the village of Warborough. This will show you the type of design and quality, but the final design will be specific to Stadhampton.