A brand new play park in the village of Godshill, which was being hailed the Isle of Wight’s first wheelchair-friendly playground, has been put on hold due to funding issues.
Despite successfully getting planning permission from the Isle of Wight Council in June 2021, the project has not been able to progress due to the loss of funding. A recent change in criteria and objectives by the main funding provider has seen the withdrawal of the main bid.
Those behind the play project say that a 2-year delay due to the COVID pandemic and rising costs of materials since then has added a constantly moving challenge when it comes to a fixed amount for grant bids.
The proposals would have also seen the current tired pavilion building demolished and a new community centre, with a hall, kitchen area and changing rooms, built instead.
A spokesperson for the Godshill Play Park Project has this week said:
“Everyone involved in the play park project and the Godshill Parish Council is still very much committed to bringing the Island an inclusive play park, because as an island we need it!
“We (a committee of volunteers with jobs and families of our own) have worked tirelessly for many years in the pursuit of this play park.
“There were always going to be 2 large hurdles, one was planning permission, the second was funding it. We secured the planning permission and sadly due to the fallout following Covid, we have just recently been hit hard with the withdrawal of our main funding bid, due to the provider changing its funding criteria and objectives.
Article continues below this advertisement “Of course this is a massive blow to us, but since Covid so many things have changed for everyone, for businesses and for charities so it was unlikely we would be immune from this.
“Everything is still in place until we can secure another large funding grant”.
The voluntary play park committee will continue to work alongside Godshill Parish Council to move the scheme forward. However, the original project coordinator, Nikki Collinson-Phenix, is no longer involved in the project as she is no longer in the UK.
The planning permission granted in June 2021 states that work must begin within 3 years.
Oh well expect more rabbit hutches to be built there instead then, bloody typical.
Except they aren’t “rabbit hutches” and the people who will buy them have no need for a play park.
Perhaps the builders and developers could fund it as they are quick enough to build houses in Godshill and the surrounding area.
Why don’t they go around the high tax payers in the area and ask for donations?
Playground or economic growth
Unnecessary. Get those in receipt of child benefits and child tax credits to fund it all.
As now most spend the largest proportion on nails , phones, and take away food.
You bred it, you pay for it ought to be the order of the conservative Gov from those who add costly often troublesome burdens to society and get ‘others’ to pay for their careless ways or choice