Lottery cash bid for Trees estate play scheme

Members of Bersted Parish Council unanimously agreed to go ahead with the application to provide new facilities on the deprived Trees estate and around the Bersted Brooks area.

The money will come from the Playful Ideas arm of the National Lottery.

Its officials will quickly decide if they want to support the scheme once the application is made by the end of this month. They will say by the middle of September whether it will be backed. The cash will be awarded, if more detailed plans are approved, by the end of the year. Work has to start within six months or the award is forfeited.

The award is intended to provide creative leisure ideas such as a mound with a castle on top or a nature trail through the Bersted Brooks rather than a fixed, traditional-style play area.

The parish council will lead the application with support from Arun and West Sussex councils. Cllr Simon McDougall commented: 'What excites me about this project is the environmental aspect which goes with it.

'Imaginative play gives the opportunity to instill some personal pride among the youngsters on the site to make them feel good about the environment they live in.

'That will give them citizenship skills and provide a real sense of civic pride and an opportunity to move in the right direction.'

Cllr Martin Lury said: 'The Trees estate is a particularly deserving site. I would hate to see this sum of money go to waste.'

Council chairman Cllr Brian Knight stated: 'This is a wonderful project which is good for the Trees estate. This council is fully committing to backing this.'

They made their decision after a presentation from Isobel King, of the county council, and Philipa Dart, Arun's head of parks and greenspaces.

Ms King said the initial play ideas would be followed by consultation with local residents before the final proposal would be submitted to Playful Ideas.

'The parish council is not being asked to put any money into the pot towards the work,' she stated.

But the parish would co-ordinate the scheme after the other councils had carried out the design work. Maintenance and safety inspections would be provided by Arun in line with the present playareas around the Trees estate.