THE new garden play area at Maldon's Promenade Park has moved a step closer – and could be ready by the start of May next year.

Revised plans for the redesign and upgrading of the popular Sensory Garden play area at Maldon's Promenade Park will go before councillors next Tuesday (24 November) at a special meeting of Maldon District Council's Strategy and Resources Committee.

The Promenade Park Garden Play Scheme draft designs were put to public consultation in August. The report to councillors on the exercise shows an overwhelmingly positive response to the plans.

Plans revisited for some small changes in the light of feedback

The draft garden play site designs used in the survey have now been revised in the light of feedback given by those who responded. The original scheme drawing remains the same, but with planting proposals for the whole area, including trees and formal beds in keeping with the existing park environment.

Native plant choices will also help maximise the benefits to wildlife and are low-maintenance and sustainable.

The existing early years play equipment currently on the site will not be removed and existing mature trees within the area will remain, except for the cedar in the Millennium garden, the conifer maze hedges and the ornamental shrub. Established fruit trees within the wildlife garden will also stay.

The Coronation shelter building has been identified for refurbishment (subject to suitable funding) as part of a separate plan and is not included in the project.

The innovative scheme is designed to encourage inclusive play and has been funded through £52,000 secured through a Section 106 payment from the developers of Lightermans Place in Maldon. A Section 106 payment is infrastructure funding paid by developers following the agreement made when planning permission is given.

The contribution from the developer was brought up to a £100,000 pot for the scheme with a further £48,000 from the council's capital development funds.

Councillors will decide whether to approve the overall layout designs and agree to starting the process for finding a suitable contractor to carry out the work.