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Oxford Road Play Area

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This play area has been popular with residents and visitors for many years, though somewhat eclipsed recently by Dovehouse “Come and Play”. However, it has been turned around by developer contributions linked to new housing at Eynsham East and Merton Court. West Oxfordshire District Council approved the transfer of £154,000 in S106 funds (for Oxford Road and Witney Road) to the Capital Expenditure Budget on 19 October 2011. Recent milestones are reported below. Construction began on 11 June 2012 and the gates re-opened on 5 September - follow progress: New Lease of Life. View update 24 September - new teething troubles.

05/02/2011: Members of the Parish Council's Play Area Committee plan to refurbish Oxford Road play area and are working with West Oxfordshire District Council's landscape architects on a design for consultation.

Two preliminary concept drawings are available, showing an overview for the north side playing field and more detail for the play area itself. The architects comment:

"This play area is designed to fit within the landscape and uses a combination of natural materials and inclusive play equipment to encourage children of all ages to play freely and with imagination."

15/06/2011: An ambitious refurbishment scheme agreed last night by the Play Area Committee opened for consultation today. Key features and equipment proposals follow:

• Equipment: nest swing, aerial runaway, springers, ground trampoline, see-saw, space net (single activity net), trim trail, multi-climber small (Borneo), bridge, sand play tables;
• Fewer logs in the 'logs and boulder' features, no tree in sand pit;
• Benches (2 posts and a plank as at Dovehouse Close) to be adult size;
• Bow top metal fencing;
• Consider simplifying boundary line - making straighter;
• Keep planting on the corner away from football field (3m gap from the corner of the football field);
• Skate park to be considered separately and after Witney Road - a similar open shelter was suggested.

16/08/2011: Following the meeting on 14 June two mounds were incorporated in the plan. A connecting bridge was suggested and a slide down one side. Further adjustments were agreed:

• More comfortable seating. Three benches were included in the plan;
• Swings accessible for disabled children;
• A sand digger instead of the springers;
• A double-seated see-saw;
• Adjustment to the border near the football field, to increase the gap;
• Moving one of the existing litter bins;
• A gate in a different colour from the fence - yellow was suggested;
• The hedge would not be needed;
• Costings for a 4-person swing to be placed near the skate ramps.

Extensive consultation about the site ended on 30 September and a display in Market Square, arranged to coincide with the second Eynsham Fruit Festival on 24 September, was very well received.

16/11/2011: The Play Area Committee considered detailed design sheet 3 last night. They agreed to replace the Borneo climber with a Kompan slide 6; to keep a climbing wall rather than a single rope climber; and to have a zip wire included in the quote. The trim trail is to be costed separately. If funds allow, consideration will be given to a shelter near the skate park. Read the minutes >>

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