NOTE FOR NEWSPAPERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS: Computer generated designs are displayed for public viewing in the West Stow Visitor Centre and can be photographed 10am – 5pm daily.
The popular play area at West Stow Country Park is about to receive a makeover and St. Edmundsbury Council would like your views on three designs, one of which will replace the existing play area.
The present timber play area was installed in 1990 and since then it is estimated that a million children have enjoyed playing on it. Schools and children visiting with their families have all been able to try out a play version of the Anglo-Saxon Village.
The new play area is part of a programme of improvements to play facilities across the borough. The standards have now been raised for both the manufacture and installation of play equipment, which conforms to the Disability Discrimination Act so that everyone has the opportunity to get the most out of any equipment.
If you use the current play facility at West Stow we’d like your views on how we can improve it. Computer generated pictures of each of the designs are in the visitor centre at West Stow which is open from 10am until 5pm. People are encouraged to tell us what they think by voting for their favourite design. These votes will help us make a final decision in the autumn and the new scheme will be built as soon as possible after that.
West Stow Manager, Alan Baxter says:
“'The play area is an important part of what families want from West Stow. The old play area has done very well, considering all the people who have enjoyed it over the years. For the future we want to ensure that any play equipment is as accessible as possible and at the same time reflects the history of this particular site. Above all any new play area must be fun for different kinds of children and that is why we want to know what people think about these different possibilities.”
The play area is set in a 125 acre Country Park which includes woodland, river, lake and heath, several picnic areas and a reconstructed Anglo-Saxon Village. There is also a nature trail, bird hides and a special bird feeding area, plus a café and gift shop to visit.
West Stow Country Park & Anglo-Saxon Village is located 6 miles NW of Bury St Edmunds off the A1101; just follow the brown tourist signs to the Anglo-Saxon Village. The Village is open from 10am to 5pm (last ticket at 4pm Summer/3.30pm Winter), Café/shop from 11am to 4pm and the CountryPark from 9am to 8pm.
For further information please call the visitor centre on: 01284 728718, email weststow@stedsbc.gov.uk or visit the website www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/weststow.
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