Sidford Byes play area ready for action

East Devon and Sidmouth Town Council welcome children back to the Byes to use the £29,000 worth of new equipment that they voted for

Sidford has received a special early Christmas present in the shape of £29,000 worth of exciting new play equipment for the Byes Lane play area, which is now open and ready for use.

Local children at Sidmouth College, Sidbury Primary School and Sidmouth Children’s Centre chose the design for eagerly anticipated improvements to Sidford’s play area earlier this year.

East Devon District Council and Sidmouth Town Council have been working closely together to spend £29,000 on the play area, using Section 106 funding from payments contributed by developers for every new home created in the town. East Devon District Council chooses to involve the community in how it spends this money.

Children had a choice of two designs for the play area and voted for their favourite. The designs which children chose from were provided by companies in line with the children’s design brief for the area.They came up with the design brief a while ago, when East Devon visited Sidmouth College, Sidbury Primary School and Sidmouth Children’s Centre to find out what type of activities the children wanted to do in the play area.

A total of 404 children voted on their favourite design with each age group being given an equal say. A majority of 53% chose the winning design by Proludic, which features a small basket swing, climbing apparatus and an aeroskate. All the old play equipment in the play area has been removed and replaced with the new equipment.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, East Devon District Council Chairman and Sidmouth Sidford ward member said:

“This is now a cracking play area with fantastic new equipment for youngsters to have fun on. The children have done an excellent job choosing this design and it’s great to see Section 106 money being spent on such a worthy project. It’s also a good example of community and local authorities working in partnership together and achieving outstanding end results. Well done to everyone involved in this project.”  
Councillor Ian Barlow, Chairman of the Sidmouth Town Council S106 Working Group:

“This refurbished play area is the first of a number of others benefitting from some of the recent developments in Sidmouth. The Town Council is encouraged to see contributions from developers being spent on schemes such as this, which will enhance the quality of play for our youngsters.”