Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Lottery bid to be made for play area improvements.
In order to make the application, the Council has adopted a new play strategy, called 'Everything To Play For'. This sets out how play is currently catered for and how provision could be made better over the next five years.

Leisure manager Lucy Murray Brown explained: "We used consultation and audit to assess what facilities there are currently in West Wiltshire, and to identify the needs of children and young people. The strategy includes an action plan, which addresses each of the key findings from this exercise."

If successful, the lottery bid will pay for new 'active play environments' in the towns of Bradford on Avon, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury. These are play areas where children are encouraged to be active, and also make the best use of the site's natural resources.

Miss Murray Brown said: "We have been meeting with the five town councils to discuss where the money could be best spent, and we have identified schemes where new equipment and facilities will benefit children and young people of all ages. Once we know that the funding has been secured, we can start to plan the specifics with a view to getting the new sites in place by Autumn 2008."

Richard Wiltshire, the leisure portfolio holder, added: "The play strategy and associated lottery funding will help us to change how we provide play opportunities, with more emphasis on exciting and challenging equipment that makes the best use of natural resources. We want to encourage our young people to stay fit and healthy but, above all, we want them to have fun and enjoy themselves in a safe and pleasant environment."