Playground fears for new plans for East Preston Village Hall

The plans would see a meeting room and a storage room for the village hall, and a permanent parish council office, to replace the current temporary building sited in the hall's car park.

Geraldine Waugh, of Lavina Way, said the extension, which would be built to the north of the hall, would take valuable space from the children's play area, and expressed concerns that any build would be expensive.

Underlining her point, she said: "In East Preston, we already pay one of the highest council taxes in the county."

Play space

Dorothy Lee, of North Lane, said that while she agreed the facilities were needed, she was also worried about the loss of any children's play space.

"We need to protect the young people, and let them have somewhere to run."

Len Barnett, chairman of the council, explained that grants would be applied for, which he hoped would cover 100 per cent of the cost.

Councillor Celeste Amoo went on to attempt to reassure those gathered of the fate of the playground, which would lose 10 per cent of its size if the plans went ahead.

Assurance

She said: "As a mother, I can assure you that the children of this village will not be short-changed.

"The play area needs to be reorganised, and I doubt if, in its current state, it would pass today's safety standards."

A bid to build on Warren Recreation Ground, home of East Preston Cricket Club, was defeated last year, when 527 villagers signed a petition against the plans.

Costings for the proposed extension are currently being gathered, and drawings of the plans are on display in the parish council offices.

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