Local play areas in the Loughton and Shenley area are to be improved.

This highlights the growing partnership between local councillors, Parish councils and the City Council.

Loughton and Shenley Councillors Zoe Nolan and Matt Clifton are driving the partnership working and helping local parish councils to engage with their communities in the design and refurbishment of their play areas.

• In Great Holm the Petworth play area design proposal is themed on Toad of Toad Hall and will build on ideas taken from the children’s story. Favourite characters Ratty and Mole will feature in the swings and roundabouts.

• The sports field on Kensington Drive is also to be improved for young people.

• In Shenley Church End, the Parish have conducted a comprehensive review of all their play areas.

The drive for closer partnership working comes from local councillors Zoe Nolan and Matt Clifton.

Councillor Zoe Nolan who is Vice chair of the Children and Young People at Milton Keynes Council said, ” Following residents’ comments to us about facilities for children and young people of all ages needing to be of a good standard we raised with Shenley Parish Council the need to prioritise play areas and following the review they will prioritise the play park on Lowndes Grove.”

Milton Keynes Council has funded local changes through the use of Section 106 money which provides infrastructure on new housing developments to the Council. This will fund the refurbishing of the Petworth park for local residents. Previous total refurbishment of the play park in Loughton made use of grants from Wren.

Councillor Nolan concluded, “I am very pleased we are able to work on improving the parks in Shenley Church End and Great Holm for local families. All of these parks are well used and much loved. The park in Loughton was totally refurbished taking account of the views of local school children who voted on the play equipment. It has been very successful. We want to build on this in other areas”.