Jubilee Playground Press Release 
Jubilee Playground Press Release Current Status |
In January of 2002 the new Village Hall at Osmington opened. It was considered to be a great asset to the Village. At the same time the Parish council decided that the children’s play area was in bad need of replacement, there being only one set of swings left and those more than twenty years old. At the January Parish Council meeting it was decided that refitting the play area would be an appropriate way to mark the Queen’s GOLDEN JUBILEE. To see this through a sub committee was set up comprised of members of the Parish Council, the Osmington Society, The Toddler’s Group and The Women’s Institute. It was hoped that this would give a good cross section of the parties who would both represent the Parish and be active in any fund raising. The task of the committee would be to co-ordinate fund raising locally, to seek major backers, to carry out a competitive tender exercise, to select a contractor, to consult with the Parish during the process and to see the project through to completion. To begin with all was going well. Tenders were sought, a contractor selected and major funding applied for. It was at this stage that Crossways Area Environment Association were instrumental in helping us to gain a 90% grant from the land fill site operator Viridor. From money already raised we were almost there! Then came the bombshell, while talking informally to the newly formed youth club the question was asked:- What about the teenagers? A suggestion was made that a meeting point should be built, and this plan had strong support from the teenagers (Coincidentally Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary had just published a report demonstrating the positive benefits of such a structure.) At our next meeting the decision was taken to try to provide this facility. At the same time it was thought to be sensible to split the project into two phases. Phase one, the play area would be built to the original plan. Phase two would seek a new major fund and the Parish would be asked to support yet more events. It was a brave decision, but could we pull it off again? Would local enthusiasm support us? We would try. This time our approach was through Dorset Community Action to The Countryside Agency. Because of the experience gained in Phase One, our approach could be more accurate, we were able to state our case more precisely. The Countryside Agency have responded with a 75% offer and we have been able to find the rest from our own fund raising events. To complete the project we have also been able to provide a goal post and a basketball net, this will have a 3 metre high fence behind it to prevent stray balls going into the Magna car park. We are grateful to the Foresters who have given us a grant of £1000 to carry this extra work out. The whole project has been a great social occasion for the Parish , the events being wide ranging, starting with a Hog roast and Barn Dance, through individual efforts - like a sponsored run and a sponsored swim across Weymouth Harbour and ending with a 50/50 Auction. The result; an up to date play facility, a Meeting Point, better use of the Parish field and a lasting memorial to The Queen’s GOLDEN JUBILEE. On March 29th came the culmination of our efforts, when the playground was opened by Councillor David Crowhurst, of Dorset County Council, and Joseph Butcher, winner of the childrens' competition. |