Town to get new skate park and play area revamp

A ward councillor said the park transformation would benefit people's health

A new skate park and the transformation of a play area have been granted planning permission.

Guisborough's King George V playing fields in Howlbeck Road will undergo changes to benefit an area "which has been in sad decline", ward councillor Bill Clarke said.

The application described plans for "wheeled play provision", natural play features made from timber and large steel lighting columns with LED lamps.

The scheme is being funded by £15m secured by Redcar and Cleveland Council from government levelling up funds, which will also be spent on the revamp of Guisborough town centre.

Clarke said the playing fields "have been needing this much-needed injection of investment for many years".

"It will benefit not only this area, which has been in sad decline, but residents' leisure facilities and health," he added.

The council's director of children and families Danielle Swainston added: "I feel that this will improve the area for children and young people and therefore support these enhancements."

The playing fields, which will also be subject to landscaping improvements, already have a council-operated leisure centre and swimming pool, football club and bowls and tennis club nearby, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

There will also be an increase in on-site parking spaces, with 13 being added for cars, four for those with disabilities and eight spaces for bicycles.

The application was granted by the council's regulatory committee.