RAF Boulmer lodges plans for £150,000 play park upgrade in Northumberland village

RAF Boulmer is putting together the £156,000 plan for the Tedder Play Park, which includes the creation of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA).

Funding would come from a variety of sources including the RAF Benevolent Fund, RAF Boulmer and Longhoughton Parish Council.

Flt Lt Ayshea Lewis, the station community support officer, states in the application: “After being granted planning permission in 2010, the park has been a great benefit of the local community and allowed residents a reliable and safe place for children to play.

"However, there is not a suitable surface area for children to play ball games during the wetter months and they resort to playing in the roads and using neighbour's garage doors as goals.

"The build of a hard surface MUGA will allow children to take part in sporting activities throughout the wetter months whilst containing the ball games and preventing disruption to the neighbouring houses.”

She describes the park’s existing facilities as ‘old and tired’ and says the lack of suitable age appropriate facilities has often led to unwelcome behaviour through boredom.

The proposal will focus on removing dated equipment and replacing it with the modern equivalent and upgraded safety surfacing.

The aim is to upgrade the park facilities for multiple age groups, allowing one place for toddlers, teenagers and school children to interact accordingly and safely.

The proposal also includes a designated picnic area.

It would be maintained by Defence Estates.

Longhoughton Parish Council has submitted its support.

There has been one objection from a local resident with concerns about noise levels from the proposed MUGA.

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