A Douglas Councillor has pledged to do her “damnedest” to ensure the authority’s play area regeneration project is completed.
Westmoreland Road play area will be the first to undergo redevelopment under phase one of Douglas Council’s new Play Area Action Plan, announced earlier this week.
Seven others have been prioritised for refurbishment in the next five years – Governor’s Hill, Centenary Gardens, Ballavagher, Pulrose, Noble’s Park, Reayrt y Sheear and Anagh Coar.
Natalie Byron-Teare, chair of the regeneration and community committee, said: “We’ve got our maintenance programme now, so if there’s any minor works, we can get them done.
“But actually, over the next 15 years, I would like to see a park a year done.
“Whether that’s possible remains to be seen, but I’m going to try my damnedest to get that done.”
Surveys
Each of the parks will undergo a topographical survey and local residents and groups, who use the spaces, will be engaged in further consultation about what they would like to see.
The council is funding the scheme through reserves and the commuted sum granted from the former nurses’ home development, which was in lieu of public space.
It’s hoped work will begin on Westmoreland Road in Spring 2027.
Byron-Teare said: “When we go to do Westmoreland for a couple of months prior, we’ll have someone on site at certain times communicating with the community that are using that facility, get their ideas and their understanding.
“I’m really excited to see how that goes. We’re going to learn from doing this and we’ll probably adapt as needed going through the programme.”
She has been talking to Local Democracy Reporter Emma Draper :