New play park and outdoor classroom plan for village
The new play area is due to be built at Kilburn Welfare Social Club before Christmas
- Published
Work to build a new £40,000 play park and outdoor classroom in a village in Derbyshire is set to begin after funding for the project was secured.
The old play equipment at Kilburn Welfare Social Club has already been torn down.
It is set to be replaced with new climbing frames, swings and a slide, as well as an outdoor classroom, which will be connected to the club.
Work should start at the end of November and the aim is to finish before Christmas.
Sarah Lonsdale, committee member for the social club, said there was a need for better play facilities in the area
Sarah Lonsdale, committee member for the social club, said: "At the moment, there's just a bit of a ramshackle thing that was done many years ago.
"We do a lot with the community. At the moment, Brownies, Rainbows and Guides use the room and it is available to hire.
"So the need is there for a better space and we're so pleased to now be in a place where it can happen."
Work to install the play equipment at Kilburn Welfare Social Club should start at the end of November
Ms Lonsdale added: "We knew there was a need for this work to happen.
"In Kilburn, there's a lovely, welcoming pub but it's not very child-friendly in terms of space to play - so we knew this was something parents and children could really benefit from.
"It's taken a long time to get here. At times I felt like giving up.
"The main frustrations were around finding the money. There is no money in social clubs. It's mostly run by volunteers.
"A lot of social clubs are either being torn down or being turned into mini-supermarkets which we didn't want."
The new play equipment includes climbing frames, swings and a slide
Volunteers at the club say they are hoping to entice a VIP guest to open the new facilities.
Ms Lonsdale said: "Our hope is for someone like Giant from Gladiator - he's a local lad, or Nigel Clough given his connections to the region.
"None of them are actually aware we want them yet - but we hope to make it happen."
Half of the funding is from the National Lottery Community Fund with the other half coming from CISWO - the local mining charity.
Get in touch
Tell us which stories we should cover in Derby
Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, external, on X, external, or on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk, external or via WhatsApp, external on 0808 100 2210.