A NEW children’s play area in Moorland Road, Taunton, was officially opened this week.

Cllr Terry Beale, Taunton Deane Council's executive councillor for housing services, declared the facility open on Wednesday.

Pupils from Minerva Primary School and St James Primary School helped with the ribbon cutting ceremony, watched by residents and invited guests.

The play area replaces an aging playground in the Halcon North area, where the council has invested in the creation of 92 homes with Knightstone Housing.

The scheme forms part of the council house building programme being undertaken across Taunton Deane by the local authority and has a mix of flats and family housing including wheelchair adapted homes.

The playground for under eights age was designed in collaboration with Swan Paul Partnership Ltd and the equipment, chosen to allow for as many activities and challenges as possible, was installed by Parsons Landscapes Ltd.

The main attraction is the first of its kind in the South West - two platforms interlinked by a bridge whose metal appearance has been softened to look like a timber boat.

One platform is accessed by a variety of steps leading to a double slide while the other platform is accessed via a series of steps to encourage balance and coordination.

There are also two play swings - a toddler basket swing and a larger basket swing for all ages - as well as a spinning springer seesaw, a performing platform seat and individual cube seats set in and around the play space.

Mr Beale said: “This is a wonderful new play area which we hope will serve the local community well.

"The design and quality of the equipment is superb and will provide hours of fun and entertainment for the children living in this brand new housing development.

"We are pleased to have achieved so much through collaborative working with Knightsone Housing, and our local contractors.”