New play and sports facilities for Newtown Green and Bulleid Place

Bulleid Place and Newtown Green in Ashford are being refurbished with new play and sports facilities ready for children and the community to enjoy.

As part of the council’s commitment to providing quality community play provisions, Newtown Green and Bulleid Place are in the process of receiving brand new play equipment and sports facilities.

Bulleid Place play area is expanding to feature various dedicated play zones for different age groups and abilities. Children can enjoy playing on a new basket swing, roundabout, climbing wall, monkey bars and pavement games. There will also be a train-themed toddler area for the little ones.

The play area in Newtown Green will feature equipment aimed at children under eight years-old; this includes a multi-play apparatus frame, a cradle swing and a roundabout. There will also be a brand new sports wall on the green where young people can play football and basketball.

The community can also make use of a new outdoor gym located in the sports field leading up to Herbert Road. The green gym will feature exercise equipment for strength training, floor markings for running, plus cardio equipment such as cross-trainers and a bike machine. The facilities are free to use and have accessible options for wheelchair users too.

The refurbishments have been funded using S106 money from the housing estate built on the former Old Railway Works site in Newtown. The designs and activities seen in the new play spaces were inspired from the results of a public consultation carried out in 2016.

Cllr Mike Bennett, Portfolio Holder for Culture, said: “The council is committed to providing high quality recreation and sports facilities for its communities. I hope the new gym equipment will encourage our residents to maintain an active lifestyle, and the children enjoy and make good use of the activities in the play areas.”

An official opening will take place once the works are completed. Details of the opening will be announced in due course.