R4U delighted as major refurbishment of playground nears completion at Anglo-American Playing Fields

R4U-led Saffron Walden Town Council (SWTC) is finishing the refurbishment of the playground at the Anglo-American Playing Fields and that it will soon be open again.

In 2020, following its refurbishment of the Common playground, R4U-led Saffron Walden Town Council established a playground working group. In 2021, they oversaw the renewal of the Golden Acre playground. Since 2022, they have been working on the refurbishments of the other Town Council playgrounds at the Anglo-American Playing Fields and in Little Walden.

Dave McLellan (R4U) Dave McLellan (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr Dave McLellan, chair of the SWTC Assets Committee, said “We are absolutely delighted with the quality and range of equipment in the new playground at the Anglo-American Playing Fields off Catons Lane. The decision was consciously made to keep the more rural look and feel of the playground, and replicate the best used pieces of equipment, whilst updating and expanding the range of apparatus. We’re also pleased, that in keeping with the refurbishment of both the Common and Golden Acre playgrounds over the last 4 years, it has been made accessible with a range of disability enabled equipment.”

At the Anglo-American Playing Fields, new equipment is going in and the existing apparatus is being refurbished.

Cllr McLellan continued “We expect the wet-pour surfacing to go down soon and the playground to be open over the next few weeks, followed by a formal re-opening later in the year, with the community involved. At R4U we believe we should be investing in community facilities through the councils we lead. We’re very proud of the play and sports facilities that we’ve provided through the Town Council, and the numerous awards SWTC has won for them, including Best in Essex. We’d also like to thank the residents who took part in the various playground consultations to help guides the design and equipment.”

Residents for Uttlesford is standing candidates for the 4th May local elections at both Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow Town Councils so that they can continue delivering for residents.

To ensure that little limbs bounce, wet-pour rubberised surface will be the last thing to be put down, as has happened at the other refurbished playgrounds.

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