A NEW play park with more than a dozen pieces of equipment will be created in an expanding village.

Plans to create a new play area within Pencaitland Park were given the go-ahead by East Lothian Council earlier this month.

The new play area, which will be created beside the neighbouring cemetery, will replace the existing play area off the A6093.

The planning application, which came from the local authority, outlines a number of items that will be included.

The equipment ranges from a “double tower with net bridge” to “double somersault bars” and “single-springer”.

Two steel benches and picnic tables will also be put in place in the play park.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council told the Courier that the scheme was expected to cost about £70,000 and work was due to get under way mid-April.

However, she stressed that the work, which is due to take between six and eight weeks, could be delayed by the weather and also in terms of the equipment arriving in the county.

She added: “We are moving the play area to the other side of the park, because the original site has too many mature trees.

“The new play area is bigger and we cannot excavate the original site to accommodate an expansion due to the mass of tree roots that would get in the way and any works would also possibly damage these trees.”

Ralph Averbuch, chairman of Pencaitland Community Council, was pleased to see the park being improved but was disappointed in the consultation process.

Friends of Pencaitland’s Parks was set up a number of years ago and was championing improvements to the park.

Discussions had taken place with East Lothian Council about what could be done, with various ideas and concepts being brought forward.

However, Mr Averbuch was disappointed to say that consultation with the group had broken down, although youngsters at Pencaitland Primary School were consulted over the design.

He said: “It is very unfortunate.

“While as a community we are very pleased to see the implementation of an improved play park for the kids that are going to be benefiting, it is unfortunate there were some easy wins we would have probably gained that would have encapsulated a broader group of opinions that were missed.

“It is a little bit bittersweet.

“We are delighted and relieved money is being put to the benefit of improving the park.

“Unfortunately, the consultation was more lip service than reality.”