It’s taken a while but Marna and the MRA kept going and the new playground equipment will be in place in a few months.
We had to overcome many obstacles – the major being planning permission. Nothing could go under the tree and nothing large by the side of the next-door house and garden (the current occupant was happy but the planners worried about future occupants).
After many months going backwards and forwards with different designs, we decided to instead build the playground on the grass opposite, next to the multi-use games area (MUGA). There were no planning issues here, but at the last moment the planners discovered that according to their maps a footpath went straight through the planned playground area and MUGA. No amount of explaining that it didn’t, and never had done helped. If the planners said it did, it did. So then we had to apply to move the non-existent footpath to where it actually ran – through the little gate. Eventually, with the help of our Borough Councillor Ed Barker, the planning permission was granted.
Now to finish raising the money. Although we had submitted several grant applications to different bodies, they wouldn’t guarantee any money until the planning permission problems had been resolved. But this month the grants have been approved and we are in a position to place the playground order!
Thank you to everyone who attended any of the Marna fundraising events, and to our grant givers – East Staffordshire Borough Council, Tarmac, Moy Park, Trent & Dove and Leeds Building Society. And especially to all the people and businesses of Mayfield who donated money and time to this project. Together we’ve nearly done it.
Main image courtesy Hags, winner of the playground design vote.