The Parish Council is currently looking at ways to upgrade the children's play area and facilities in Alderley Edge Park and they are hopeful that some of the Section 106 money* could be used for this.
One of the ideas the Parish Council has been exploring is installing outdoor table tennis tables under the bandstand.
Speaking at the Parish Council meeting on Monday, 11th April, Councillor Craig Browne said "I've been making a little bit if a nuisance of myself with the officers, in the nicest possible way, and have learned that three of the Section 106 schemes for Alderley have been allocated for upgrading the existing children's play area in the playing fields. I asked whether the definition can be extended to include table tennis under the bandstand and they have confirmed that."
Councillor Mike Dudley-Jones said "It seemed like a good idea with the Youth Parish Council coming together, hopefully by the end of this month, that this might be one of their early initiatives. They would communicate through a notice board in the band stand to say it is our proposal to put a table tennis table in there - if it is being enjoyed and something people want we have the resources to put a second table in."
Speaking about the durability of the tables, Councillor Mike Dudley-Jones said "These table tennis tables are about £650 each and they weigh about the same as two Agas so you'd be pushed to lift or move them. They are difficult to destroy, they are designed for hugely tough use.
"The ones in the park (near the Whitworth Gallery) in Manchester actually have the table tennis bats still inside and a collection of balls despite the fact they are open every day of the week - kids come and go and put the stuff back."
If the Parish Council is able to obtain some of the Section 106 money allocated to Alderley Edge to make improvements in the park how would you like to see this money spent? Would you like to see a table tennis table or two installed under the bandstand?
Share your suggestions via the comment box below.
*Section 106 Money is paid by developers of larger sites to the council to reduce the impact of the development. The money is intended to be used for social and community projects such as improvements to highways, parks, public transport, and schools.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
The three schemes in total equate to more than £68,000 which should certainly cover more than a couple of table tennis tables. One of the reasons we are setting up a Parish Youth Council is because we would like Youth Councillors, as representatives for young people, to guide us in terms of the kinds of facilities they would like to see.
Best wishes,
Craig
The facilities for kids post age 7 or 8 is non existent
Please spend some to remove the barbed wire in the fencing between the bowling green and the AESG's Courts.
Several trees were cut down, in the park, a week ago. Could we pay for or get C.E. to pay for some planting. As far as I am aware, the only tree planting recently has been a free tree from a gardening firm (flowering cherry) and a sapling donated by a member of the public (Beech).
In the past, there has been a 'demand' for facilities for the older park user. One suggested model was a series of exercise facilities, scattered around the perimeter of the park; sort-of circuit training.