New playground for Hampton

8.30.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 7th Aug 2007

A new playground at Hampton village green is proving a magnet for youngsters.

It was opened last week as part of a £2m playground modernisation scheme launched by the Council four years ago to improve play facilities borough-wide. The Council invested £500,000 per annum into improving the equipment, safety and signage of the sites. The new playground in Station Road, Hampton, boasts modern play equipment for use by both disabled and able-bodied children. Under the programme, 32 playgrounds have been upgraded and six brand new play areas, including the one in Hampton, provided. At the start of the programme the Council's target was to have at least 77 per cent of the borough's play areas meeting the Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAP) criteria. Currently, 85 per cent meet the national LEAP standard.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Martin Elengorn, said:

"Playgrounds are a very high priority for the Council and this borough now boasts some of the best play areas in London, which reflects our determination to improve facilities. As well as being huge fun, they must also be safe and this has been a key design factor with rubber surfacing throughout. The popularity of the Hampton play area was a delight to see when I visited it last week. Like all the others provided under the programme, it is proving a great attraction."