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Created: 19 July 2024

A new state-of-the-art fun zone for Erewash’s youngsters is taking shape after work got underway on the £400,000 council project.

The thrilling attraction is replacing an existing playground and will see two separate adventure areas – one for children aged five and under, and another for juniors. The zone for younger kids includes a rocking boat and a “3D rubber shark”. Work on this will be completed first and is expected to take around four to five weeks.

Older youngsters will then get bridges and slides – one of which is a nine metre-high twisting tube. Construction of these is also predicted to take around a month.

The council apologised for the disruption after some residents queried why the project in Long Eaton’s West Park was happening in the school summer holidays. An official explained: “We needed good weather to avoid delays to the building work. West Park can be prone to flooding in non-summer months.

“It is because we want to minimise disruption that construction of the junior play area will not take place until after the toddler zone is complete. The nearby Splashpad and café will also remain open throughout.” Two competing visions for the fun zone were presented to residents who got to pick their favourite in a public vote. The council aims to refurbish some of the old play equipment from the site so it can be used elsewhere in the borough.

The town hall struck a deal to get the project paid for by the government as part of £2.8million of investment that the council clinched for the borough. Cllr Becca Everett – Deputy Leader of the council and Lead Member for Community Engagement – said:

“This much-needed investment is helping to enrich the lives of residents across the borough – and the council was keen from the start to see that youngsters did not get left out. The new fun zone at West Park is just one of the ways children here are getting a boost.”