By Gillian Ellison

Last updated at 11:31, Thursday, 07 March 2013

AN £84,000 playground transformation started this week – thanks to the determination of a group of Moor Row mothers.

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Louise Moore, Lesley Sloan and Claire O’Neill could this week see the start of their hard work over the past four years taking shape.

Work began to install the equipment on Monday and it will take about five weeks to complete.

The new park will include seating – including picnic benches – play equipment, a toddler area, youth area and a teenagers area with basketball net.

Louise said: “We are delighted to see the work commence on our community space, this village park will be enjoyed by generations to come.”

Back in 2008 the mums got together to discuss the state of the village park which was in urgent need of refurbishment.

Over the months and years, the Moor Row Playground Committee was formed and the hard work started to contact funders for help with the project.

The small committee with the help of the community, local organisations and good causes, managed to raise £84,000.

In December 2010 the committee won the RESPECT police award for effective partnership working.

Help and funding has been gained from many sources over the years including Copeland Community Fund, Copeland Council, Neighbourhood Forums (including Copeland), Natwest, Cumbria Waste Management, FCC Environment Ltd (through WREN), Cumbria Constabulary, Phoenix Youth Project, Emmanuel Church and Moor Row Working Men’s Club – to name just a few!

Peter Cox, managing director of WREN, said: “The Moor Row playground will provide a fantastic space for local people to get outdoors and have some fun. We’re delighted to support The Moor Row Playground Committee granting £50,000 to make this happen.”

Vicki Scott, for Natwest West Cumbria, said: “Louise Moore has been working hard raising funds for the project. We are happy to support this charity in our local community. Natwest Bank have donated £7,250 over the last two years.”

Police Community Support Officer Alan Willison said: “To be able to give something tangible to these groups, gives us a great sense of achievement and we will continue to assist in anyway we can. The £250 (Chief Constable’s Police Property Fund) will go towards seating for the park.”

Copeland Community Fund awarded the project £24,000; Cumbria Waste Management allocated £8,000 and Moor Row Working Men’s Club gave £200.

Copeland Council leader Elaine Woodburn said: “This project is a great example of a community, the council, Copeland Community Fund and many others coming together to deliver what will be a fantastic asset for Moor Row. The idea stemmed from three ladies who have worked extremely hard and committed many hours to securing the funding and they should be rightly proud of what they have achieved. I and the council are pleased to have been able to play our part in helping with this.”

Louise added: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this project, whether it be a funder, advice or support from a third party organisation.”

An official opening should be held in the second week of April.

First published at 11:28, Thursday, 07 March 2013
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk