Marcus Wood

Launching my Kids Play Area campaign.

Shadow Minister for Children Tim Loughton kindly agreed to help launch my campaign to raise £100,000 to build a new childrens play area - hopefully on Preston Seafront.

Since my children were quite small we have been aware that the facilities available to our youngest visitors to the seafront have been pretty meagre.

The fact is that neigbouring Teignmouth has a superb new facility complete with rope climbing frame and myriad new and exciting attractions, all free and open.

I have conducted a small survey and during the winter months 80% of the people walking along the green were from within the Torbay area and many of them (and 92% of those with children) commented that facilities for childrens play were limited unless you want to pay.

The council clearly have limited resources which , quite rightly, are directed towards residential play facilities and their track record in this regard is qute good. We want to raise funds from private donors, local businesses and through fundraising to build a really exciting adventure playground for vistors and local children alike.

The council have indicated that they may be able to offer us a patch of land by the new pirate themed crazy gold course on Paignton green and we have set our hearts on filling the space next to it with our park.

We intend to hold a competition amongst local children to help design the park which we hope to theme along pirtae/smuggler lines.

If you can help or know someone else who might, please contact me on 01803 557753.