New £400k "play mecca" opens in Long Eaton park

A new £400,000 play "mecca" has in Long Eaton has been completed and to celebrate the "young deputy Mayor" of Erewash came down with a local primary school to cut the ribbon and officially open it. Erewash Borough Council built the playground using cash from the government's Shared Prosperity Fund.

The new playground, in West Park, has a rocking boat, bridges, slides, a zip wire and a climbing frame. Construction took six months but it's now officially open.

A public consultation was held where people were given a vote on what the playground would look like. Cllr Josy Hare, said: “We are also about to officially open a new £450,000 all-weather sports pitch in Ilkeston. It brings the amount that the borough is investing in sport and leisure to more than £4million. The vast majority of this is from government and other funding – meaning it is not from council tax."

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When the 24-year-old Cllr and Deputy Mayor of Erewash Harry Atkinson was invited to the new playground to cut the ribbon, he replied: "Only if I can have a go." before he decided to then test out the new equipment before cutting the ribbon.