Funding plea for new play area

The race is on to find the final funding for a new play area for Moulton Chapel which was granted planning permission last week.

The village’s Youth and Community Centre have, for the past two years, been working and fundraising for the project after being offered the opportunity to lease land next to the Moulton Chapel Road centre.

So far thanks to some fantastic donations and brilliant fundraising events, they’ve collated £21,000 of the £35,000 they need for the play equipment.

But after getting the go-ahead from planners they’re still £14,000 short and also looking to fund a further £10,000 to afford extra parking and boundary fencing for the land.

Those behind the plans are hoping local businesses or organisations can help back their bid for better
facilities for youngsters in the village.

“Moulton Chapel Youth & Community Centre is a registered charity and around two years ago were given the opportunity to lease an area of land behind the centre for use as a playing field/community area,” said the group’s trustee Nicola Smith. “So the small but very dedicated management committee took on the 25-year lease with the aim of creating a communal area for everyone to enjoy, and also an area of extra parking for the hall users.

“There are no other facilities like this in our village, which also no longer has any open playing field type area for children to run around, play football etc.”

The planning application says the development “will enhance use of the field offering a focal point for children and encouraging physical activity.”

A new car park will “reduce the likelihood of a on-street parking during larger events” the application documents state.

Events carried out to raise the funds have included bingo and race nights with a children’s play morning coming up on Friday, September 13 and a Salsa and Zumba Night to follow on October 4.

The group has also had donations from Wryde Croft Wind Farm, Tesco Bags of Help, Co-op Community Fund, Lloyds Bank, Perkins and WH Smith but is after more to help them to their target.

“We’re really excited by the plans,” Nicola said: “A lot of hard work has gone into this in the last couple of years and it feels like things are coming together, but there’s still a bit of work to do.”

Anyone who may be able to help can contact nicolasmith1978@outlook.com