More play areas to transfer to council

A SERIES of play areas in Thetford will be handed over to the town council after being given the go-ahead at a meeting yesterday.

Members of Breckland cabinet approved the transfer of the former multi-use games area, Trafalgar Wood and the Riverside Area, all at Kilverstone Park.

The sum of �34,473 for the former multi-use games area and �163, 845 for the Riverside Area was also granted.

Breckland Council gained the play areas under a section 106 agreement. The first, the multi-use games area, was in 2009. In 2010, the council gained a further four areas – Northern Shelter Belt, Green Lane, Trafalgar Wood and the Riverside Areak.

A formal request had been made to transfer the sites, together with money received from the developers for maintenance. Earlier this year the town council agreed a one-off payment of �174,270 from Breckland to take over the running of eight play parks.

Marion Chapman-Allen welcomed the change, in particular Trafalgar Wood. “This area is valued by the local community and is well used. It means it will be possible to carry out improvements and hopefully transform it into a county wildlife site.”