R4U excited as the new playground and other works on Saffron Walden Common nears completion

Residents For Uttlesford is delighted with the refurbishment of The Common under its leadership at Saffron Walden Town Council, including new paths, benches, clearing of cars from Common Hill West, landscaping, new trees, a water fountain, and a brand new playground.

Paul Gadd (R4U) Paul Gadd (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr Paul Gadd, Leader at Saffron Walden Town Council said “Over the last four years we’ve set in place a programme of renewal and refurbishment of many of our town’s assets. The Common is one of the centre-pieces of our town so we’re delighted with the results. Many residents will have already appreciated our new multi-function paths along the bottom and up the town side, both of which are heavily used. What residents may not have noticed is that we’ve also removed parking on the grass between the road and houses on Common Hill West and are busy re-landscaping that area. The main diagonal footpath should soon be replaced and widened to make it much more attractive. On the main part of The Common we’ve also added new benches, and planted many trees.”


Common refurbishment Top Left clockwise – New benches; R4U’s Paul Gadd planting trees; re-landscaped Common Hill; new paths along the bottom and side along Common Hill. Centre – new playground

Cllr Paul Gadd continued “We’re most excited and proud of the new playground which will open shortly and is part funded by £30k of grants. In 2017 we won awards for the maintenance of many of our playgrounds, but the Common one had reached the end of its life. Feedback from parents has helped us redesign it to provide a range of new outdoor activities to get children away from their screens as well as the first disability enabled equipment. We’ve also added a fountain for people to refill their water-bottles. It is fantastic to watch kids excitedly pointing through the fences showing their parents what’s coming. We can’t wait for it to open in a couple of weeks! The Common hasn’t looked this good in years.”


The all new playground includes range of new outdoor activities for children and features disability enabled equipment.

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