Wisbech Adventure Playground: Council gets nearly £1m for youth centre

Tom Sanderson said the new building would "improve the health and wellbeing of the young people"

A playground is to be given nearly £1m from the government for a new youth centre on site.

It would replace two deteriorating barges at Wisbech Adventure Playground.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) awarded Cambridgeshire County Council £914,650 as part of its Youth Investment Fund.

The council said the centre would be a "safe place for young people to take part in positive activities and socialise".

A report presented to the council's Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee said the grant would "provide a new fit-for-purpose modular youth facility, replacing the indoor space function of the two barges currently on site and in a poor state of repair".

The funds would replace the existing two deteriorating barges at the site

A planning application put together by the council setting out the details of the new facility was awaiting a decision, reported the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Last month, structural issues with some pieces of equipment forced the closure of the playground. It is due to reopen again on 18 July.

Council officers said the government funding would not cover updating or replacing the existing playground equipment.

Independent councillor Tom Sanderson, chairman of the committee, said: "The barges have been used and enjoyed for many years, but the time has come to replace them.

"This [youth centre] will provide a safe place for young people to take part in positive activities and socialise, with improved and increased access to professional support, trusted adults and community-based youth workers.

"This grant will enable the council to help to improve the health and wellbeing of the young people who use these facilities, as well as addressing other issues which they so often face."