Whitchurch Jubilee Park’s newly-unveiled extended play area has been given the thumbs up from youngsters after it was re-opened.

The £28,000 facility was designed and manufactured by outdoor play experts, Creative Play, as part of a significant investment from Whitchurch Town Council, after a long consultation period with young people.

Whitchurch mayor, Councillor Tony Neville, was delighted with how the extension has turned out. 

“The new extension to the Jubilee Park play area is fantastic,” he said.

“The equipment is a great addition and Whitchurch Town Council thank everyone for taking part in the consultation.

“The council hope that families will get great pleasure in playing on the new equipment, we have done what the residents asked for and are extremely happy with the result.”

Councillor Terry O’Neill, chair of the Parks Committee added: “I have worked closely with council members, the clerk and Creative Play to move this project forward and I am very happy with the outcome.

“Having met many of the families and children who voted during our public consultation, and seen the drawings of the play area extension, the actual play equipment surpasses the drawings and I have only received positive feedback.”

The family firm were set the mission of turning a “blank canvas” into a dream destination designed to challenge youngsters’ physical, motor and social skills.

Spread over a large area, the extension features a pirate ship, climbing unit and basket swing.

Creative Play’s sales director, David Esser, explained how the project came about.

He said: “The town clerk for the council approached us asking us to provide three design options for a play area extension.

“There’s a climbing unit which is very different from the equipment that is already there in the existing playground.

“Because the area is near the old canal site, people were really keen that some sort of boat was involved so we’ve built a pirate ship with a slide, climbing nets and tunnels.

“I visited the playground a short while later and it was nice to see the area swarming with children.”

Members of Whitchurch Alport Junior Football Club were very enthusiastic about the new play area.

Tyler Depaul, seven, said: “We come to the park a lot to play and the new pirate ship is really brilliant.”

Club chairman, Rob Foster, added: “The playground extension is a brilliant addition to the park.

“It’s new and fresh and gives the kids something the park has been lacking for quite some time.”