Bradley Stoke Town Council has announced that the greatly delayed new play area at Baileys Court Activity Centre will be opened for public use on Saturday 2nd July 2022.
The £105,000 project to redevelop the small play area was originally intended to be completed by the end of August last year (2021), but setbacks including a failure to obtain planning permission and a “surveying error” by the contractor have delayed the scheme by many months.
The play area has been out of use since a ‘ground breaking’ ceremony was held on Monday 14th March, at which time it was expected to be reopened within six weeks. However, the subsequent discovery that a “surveying error” had been made meant that a second planning application had to be submitted to South Gloucestershire Council.
Work at the site finally resumed on Monday 23rd May 2022.
Opening event
A “grand opening” event with face painters, goodie bags, ice cream vans and music is being planned by the town council and its contractor Kompan.
Mayor Tony Griffiths will open the park, joined by councillors, council staff, Kompan employees and community members. All Bradley Stoke residents are invited to attend the celebration.
Council press spokesperson Cllr Tom Aditya said:
“The new play area has been equipped with the biggest slide in South Gloucestershire, a mega tower, wobbly bridge, carousel, swings, triple somersault bars, and other pieces of play equipment offering 40 play features and catering to almost 75 children at a time.”
“All the play equipment and gadgets are bespoke and made to order, which will include the safety surface. It also comes with almost 30-years guarantee. This gives Bradley Stoke a high-quality play area with some unique facilities which will keep children occupied, excited, and stimulated. I am much gratified to be part of this project. Thanks to all my colleagues and project staff, who helped us in this endeavour.”
Philip Francis, deputy town clerk and activity centres manager, said :
“There has been some delays in the work earlier. Bradley Stoke Town Council worked efficaciously with the contractor for its completion. The project has come to fruition now. All equipment has been installed at the play area on Friday 17th June and wet pour (rubber tarmac) has been laid on Monday 20th June. In the week commencing Monday 27th June, we are doing a final inspection run externally to make sure the play area is safe. Snagging may happen, which will be rectified and some minor tree works will also be completed soon.”
Invitation
Bradley Stoke Town Council invites all young children in the town to attend the celebration at 10am on Saturday 2nd July 2022 and to enjoy features of the new play area.
Baileys Court Activity Centre
Baileys Court Road
Bradley Stoke
Bristol BS32 8BH
Location map: Baileys Court Activity Centre (Google Maps)
Note: Supplies of goodie bags are limited – please come early to grab one.
Ribbon cutting
UPDATE added 19th July 2022.
From the draft minutes of a meeting of Bradley Stoke Town Council held on 13th July 2022:
The new play area has been installed and was formally opened on Saturday 2nd July 2022. Kompan have installed our new bench and litter bin free of charge and have also purchased another new bench and bin which they will be installing as a goodwill gesture. They also increased the wet-pour surfacing areas at no cost to the town council and the price of the equipment was held at the price from when the contract was awarded. Kompan also arranged the opening event and provided free ice creams, face-painting, balloons and goodie bags for everyone attending.
The town council are going to erect a plaque at the play area commemorating the opening and also acknowledging the external funders and the company who built the play area.
