THE new garden play area at Maldon's Promenade Park has been given final the go-ahead by councillors – as news emerged that there are early stage hopes for similar developments at Riverside Park in Burnham-on-Crouch.

Members at a special meeting of Maldon District Council's (MDC's) Strategy and Resources Committee yesterday evening (Tuesday, 24 November) agreed that the £100,000 project at the site of the existing Sensory Garden area at the Prom should go ahead.

Council officers will now work to secure a suitable contractor with the hope that the new play facility could be opened in April to May next year.

Councillor Wendy Stamp asked officers at the meeting whether provision for disabled children and those with special needs had been included as this was difficult to see from the plan drawings. She also asked whether security for the facility is planned.

MDC's Commercial Manager, Steve Butcher, explained that the plans include a swing where a wheelchair can be attached and that play areas are designed with accessibility in mind.

There will also be a sensory garden area with new plantings.

Mr Butcher added that an extra CCTV pole to cover the play area would be installed.

Councillor Penny Channer suggested that a public competition to name the new sensory garden area could also be a good idea.

Councillor Nick Skeens agreed to the plans, but added: "This is an absolutely beautiful scheme. It is great for Maldon – but I do need to draw everyone's attention to the rest of the district.

"The more tourism and the more facilities that we can provide across the district, the better, and I do hope that similar schemes will start appearing in Burnham and other outlying areas of the district."

Referring to possible work at Riverside Park, Mr Butcher replied: "Should councillors choose to support a similar scheme for Burnham-on-Crouch we would be absolutely delighted to provide something like that in the area."

In the proposed capital projects list presented to MDC's Strategy and Resources Committee by officers last Thursday, a sum of £100,000 was included for play area works at Riverside Park.

However, this amount is not at all certain as it will need to be agreed first by the committee in January and, following that, agreed by Full Council in February. It is also worth noting that while the Promenade Park scheme was funded at exactly that sum, £52,000 of that fund came from the contributions of the developers of Lightermans Place in Maldon. This means that only £48,000 came from MDC's capital pot.

In addition to the money proposed for a new play area at Riverside Park, council officers have also included a capital bid for £35,000 for a car park hardstanding there and a further £11,000 for information boards and signage.