WORK to revamp the children’s play area at Lewisvale Park in Musselburgh will start this month, at a cost of about £37,000.

This follows public surveys carried out by Musselburgh Area Partnership, which has allocated the funding to provide new, modern play equipment at the site.

Group chairman Iain Clark said: “It is really to encourage more use of Lewisvale Park, which is one of the most under-used parks in East Lothian and yet it is a beautiful park.”

East Lothian Courier:

Printed questionnaires were made available during the ‘Live from Lewisvale’ event during last year’s Riding of the Marches, along with voting sheets proposing three different designs for a new children’s play facility.

An online survey was then promoted via social media and East Lothian Council’s consultation hub. Nearly 700 people took part in the consultation.

Sixty-four per cent of respondents were not satisfied with the activities available at the park and felt that there was not enough to do there, with 67 per cent not satisfied with the current facilities. The survey showed that 41 per cent wanted children’s facilities improved, with 26 per cent asking for better seating and 10 per cent in favour of upgraded signage and information points.

Twenty-six per cent called for more toilet facilities, 24 per cent for a wet play facility and 23 per cent asked for a new play park. Bike stands were the priority for 10 per cent, as were new sports facilities, with four per cent requesting a car park.

Stuart Baxter, area partnership manager, said: “Forty-one per cent of respondents suggested the children’s facilities needed improved, so we have gone with that.

“It is still an aspiration for us to look at a water fun park, which got the most votes but, because of the size of that project, it would cost in the region of £150,000. It is going to take more than a year to get that off the ground.”

Mr Clark added: “You have projects that are longer term for which we could look at opportunities for match funding from elsewhere.

“There is no point in going half-hearted. If you are going to do something, you have to make it proper, worthwhile and ensure it meets the needs of the community, otherwise it falls apart.”

The play equipment will be installed by the council amenity services team and work is expected to be complete by the end of April.

Mr Clark added: “The good thing about the area partnership is that there are 26 members who are all representatives from other organisations in the community, so they can feed into the partnership what the community needs.”

He highlighted the success of a pop-up shop on High Street last year, which was aimed at giving the community the chance to have its say on what was needed in the Musselburgh area. Views have been put on a spreadsheet and will be considered when the Musselburgh Area Plan is reviewed by partnership members.

“We will sit and go through the key concerns of the community. If they are relevant, they can get added to the plan,” said Mr Clark.

The area partnership has a budget of £350,000 from the council to spend on projects, including education initiatives to raise attainment in schools, amenity work, roads and general services.