Halton Borough Council has started a scheme to refurbish the children’s play area at Phoenix Park, Runcorn.

The re-vamp of the twelve-year-old playground will include the provision of more accessible play equipment for children of all ages and abilities.

The new kit includes a multi-activity play unit with ramped access, swings with a variety of seats, a flush-floor roundabout, a see-saw with extra-supportive seats, a ground-level trampoline and a sensory interactive play train.

Funding for the £111,000 project will come from a variety of sources, including WREN’s FCC Community Action Fund which provides grants to community projects using money generated from the landfill community funds of FCC Environment Ltd .

Halton Borough Council is providing funds via the local Area Forum and from the Open Space Services Division’s capital playground improvement budget.

Additional funds have been provided by Windmill Hill Big Local and Tesco, through its ‘Bags of Help’ scheme.

Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for the Physical Environment, Cllr Ron Hignett, said: “This will improve the facilities in what is one of the area’s most popular parks. I am sure everyone will welcome the work we will be doing on the site.”

The work will be carried out by Manchester-based firm Dunkil Developments Ltd. who hope to start work in early June, completing the job six weeks later. Unfortunately, for safety reasons, the play area will be closed for the duration of the works.