A City Councillor has called for a play area to be set up in St Stephen ward, which currently has no play areas at all within its boundaries.
Speaking at the Place and Economic Development Committee (PED), Councillor Alex Mace said “There are a number of great play areas just over the border, in Gheluvelt Park, Bishops Avenue, Perdiswell and Gillam Street MUGA, with Brickfields also close by, but the bulk of the ward is enclosed by large, busy roads. One of the common themes I hear on the doorstep is about the speed and amount of traffic on these roads, and the challenge of crossing them.”
Cllr Alex Mace pointing out the busy traffic at Bilford Road.
PED is looking at updates to the Worcester Play Plan Priority Projects to assess what is needed to improve play areas and access to these around the city.
Councillor Mace pointed out that in 2018 the County Council assessed Green Lane as too dangerous to have a lollipop person, despite having speed bumps and a 20mph limit. These busy roads act as a real barrier to children, parents and carers trying to get to play areas. Additionally, while the canal towpath presents another possible route to get to Lansdowne Park and other sites for play, some residents have expressed concerns around having to share the path with cyclists riding fast, as well it being unlit and so feeling unsafe from mid-afternoon in the darker months.
Having considered possible sites for a play area, Councillor Mace said that there were challenges to be overcome, such as identifying suitable spaces, but he expressed his determination to overcome this, saying “Children deserve to have access to play equipment on their doorstep, and in St Stephen we have none. Let’s fix that.”