The Culcheth Village Green play area on Common Lane has gone from looking decidedly past its prime to becoming one of the village’s most popular attractions. That is quite a turnaround for a playground once featuring rotting roundabouts, rusty seesaws and a concrete surface that was hardly the stuff of childhood dreams.
The transformation followed investment of around £200,000 from Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council. The revamped space now includes safety surfaces, new swings, slides and a zip wire, giving local children considerably more to enjoy than the traditional challenge of avoiding the worst bits of the old equipment.
Cllr Keith Bland, chair of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, said last year: “We know how important high quality play facilities are in our communities, so we’re delighted to be investing in the Village Green play area, which is such a popular place for local families.”
One visitor said: “It is wonderful. My children go to school away from here and they love to play here first.” That sounds like a strong endorsement, and the playground’s popularity suggests the investment has landed exactly where it matters, with families.
It is a welcome improvement for Culcheth, although describing any playground as a major attraction may be slightly generous when the competition includes the village green, local walks and the determined search for somewhere to park. Still, replacing tired and potentially unsafe equipment with a modern, usable play area is money well spent.
The original article was written by Ella Wilcox, Senior Reporter, as part of an exclusive subscriber partnership with sister title USA Today. It noted that the content was produced by American colleagues and did not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.