WOODBURY Salterton residents have chosen the preferred design for their new outdoor gym and improved play area.

East Devon District Council and Woodbury Parish Council have been working with Woodbury Salterton residents of all ages to decide on the final design for £37,300 of outdoor gym and play equipment available for the Woodbury Salterton recreation field.

At a voting event held in mid-July at Woodbury Salterton Village Hall, 100 residents got to choose between three designs. The winner with 89% of all the votes was a design by HAGS SMP.

Two stages

The money has all come from recent housing developments (Section 106 money) in the parish. EDDC has the policy of involving residents in deciding how this money is used.

Woodbury Salterton residents were asked last year to put forward ideas for Section 106 money available for sports, all of the eligible, affordable and possible ideas were subject to a community vote. The winning Woodbury Salterton project was for a £15,000 outdoor gym. There is currently £7,400 available so the chosen outdoor gym will be completed in two stages with half put in now and half when the rest of the money comes in.

Climbing

There is also £22,300 of Section 106 money for play to spend in Woodbury Salterton recreation field. East Devon District Council and Woodbury Parish Council worked with local children to find out what activities they most wanted to be in the play area. They asked for climbing, sliding (preferably a zip wire) and swinging (preferably a basket swing).

Woodbury Parish Council sent off the community’s requirements for the play area and outdoor gym to several play companies who came back with their designs. Residents of all ages got to choose their favourite layout.

Councillor Iain Chubb, EDDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Thank you to everyone who came out and voted. We are committed to making sure that local people have their say about where money from developments in their parish gets spent, and are one of the few local authorities that do so. This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Woodbury Salterton to really make a difference by deciding which new sports and play facilities they get”.