The new park play area has been backed by local councillors

Plans for a new £180,000 play area at Drayton Park are moving forward, featuring accessible equipment and a road safety cycling track.

Work on the new facility is due to begin on June 15 and continue until July 20. During that period the play area will be closed, although it is expected to reopen in time for the summer holidays.

Local ward councillors Spencer Gardner and Simon Bosher welcomed the £180,000 investment, funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy and money allocated in the council’s budget.

The pair are also pursuing plans for a “new community café in the Pavilion”, with hopes of turning the park into a “significantly improved facility for residents of Drayton and Farlington”.

Cllr Gardner said he was “really pleased” to deliver a “much-improved play area for local families”.

Cllr Spencer Gardner and former Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt

placeholder image — Cllr Spencer Gardner and former Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt

“While we appreciate there will be some temporary disruption, starting work now means the new equipment should be ready in time for the summer holidays, when it will benefit children the most,” he added.

Cllr Gardner said the project was being prioritised ahead of local government reorganisation proposals, which could see councils in Portsmouth, Gosport, Fareham and Havant merged.

“This is a significant upgrade that reflects our commitment to improving local facilities and we’ve worked hard to ensure the project is ready to go without delay, particularly given the wider changes to local government on the horizon.

“I’d also like to thank council officers for their hard work in helping bring this scheme forward.”

According to the council’s concept designs, the new play area will include accessible swings, sensory play equipment and a wheelchair carousel for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Plans also feature a climbing frame with a 7m slide, a cycle track with educational road safety markings and a “quiet zone play hut”.

The existing climbing net and cableway will remain.

The design, produced by KOMPAN, was selected following a public consultation which closed on March 27.