Local schoolchildren help celebrate opening of Loretto Road and Foxhill play areas in Axminster

On Tuesday 28 January 2020 children from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Axminster and councillors from East Devon District Council celebrated the opening of the newly refurbished Foxhill and Loretto Road play areas.

A total of £157,000 worth of modern and exciting play equipment – chosen by local youngsters and funded by East Devon - has been installed by the council at these two Axminster play areas

£105,000 of the funding for the £120,000 Foxhill play area has come from East Devon District Council’s main budgets. The remaining £15,000 is Section 106 money given by developers who have created new homes in Axminster. The play equipment for Loretto Road has been paid for with £37,000 of Section 106 money, prioritised for the play area by Axminster Town Council.

As part of the equipment selection process, East Devon District Council talked to children and young people of all ages from Axminster, including St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Axminster Baby Café, SWITCH Youth Group, Monday Monkeys and Little Pips to help understand what activities they wanted in the town’s play areas.

The most popular requests from the youngsters involved were sent to a number of play equipment suppliers, who competed to provide the best designs. A good selection of great quality designs were received and, after much deliberation, the council appointed Kompan to manufacture and construct the play areas.

The items chosen by the children/young people involved in these projects include:

• At Foxhill a trampoline set in the ground, a zip wire, a tall slide, basket swing, climbing and spinning items and a farmyard theme, which are all now in place.
• Improvements at Loretto Road include a pirate ship, trampoline in the ground, a tall spinning item for multiple people, a mini zip wire and swings.

The play areas were officially opened by Cllr Val Ranger, East Devon District Council’s Vice-Chairman, who said:

“First of all I want to congratulate all of the children for their fantastic ideas for these play parks. I was particularly impressed with the little roadways and the farm theme at Foxhill, as well as the fabulous mix of equipment. There’s something for smaller children, and something for bigger children, as well as a place where all the family can play together. I came here on Sunday and tried out some of the equipment, which fortunately is just my size and I love that with some of equipment you can use your imagination and do whatever you like, and then you’ve got a lovely mix of traditional games, like hopscotch. I think you’ve just done such a brilliant job and it shows what you can do when you all work together. I know you’ve had input from East Devon District Council and members of Axminster Town Council and ward member Cllr Sarah Jackson. You’ve done a magnificent job!”

Cllr Geoff Jung, East Devon’s portfolio holder for the environment, said:

“Both play areas desperately needed renewing, which is why we allocated £157,000 to them. The new play areas look very exciting. Thanks to all the local children and young people who took part in the consultation. This process is essential in helping us ensure we provide what the children want.”

Cllr Andrew Moulding, ward member for Axminster Town, said:

‘’I moved to Foxhill in 1952, when I was six years old. All we had in the playing field was one set of football goal-posts, but we had an enthusiastic group of fund-raisers on the estate, who raised enough money to put in some swings and a slide.

“Many years later, my wife and I lived just over the fence from Foxhill playing fields in Lea Combe, and my children aged eight and six, loved the playing fields, which by then had been considerably upgraded. Thanks to Nelly Weller and the other members of the Foxhill Playing Fields Association, who ran regular bingo sessions at the Guildhall, extra funds were raised and a tennis court proved an extremely popular addition.

“However, the fantastic new facilities at Foxhill and Loretto Road, which have now been installed, would have been a distinct dream for the children of those times. For Nelly Weller and her team, the new equipment is an appropriate tribute, which will be enjoyed by future generations in Axminster.”

Cllr Ian Hall, ward member for Axminster Town, said:

"I have been so fortunate to have lived in the Axminster Community all of my life and to have seen the evolution of both the Foxhill and Loretto Road play parks, from the 1970s to present day. So many children have enjoyed the facilities through the decades and now another exciting chapter is about to begin with this fantastic upgrade.

“Many thanks to the children of Axminster who helped decide what equipment should be installed at the two sites."

Cllr Sarah Jackson, ward member for Axminster Town, said:

“Access to exciting and challenging play equipment is essential for children both young and old to build key motor skills, to improve social interaction and to develop a healthy understanding of their physical limitations. I am delighted that East Devon District Council, in collaboration with the local community, has been able to refurbish and rejuvenate these two parks to such a high standard. I am sure that children of all ages will enjoy these facilities for years to come.”