01 March 2010
Work on a new toddlers' play area is to be built on Myddleton Lane Recreation Ground following the completion of our sewer flooding prevention scheme.
We have contributed £24,000 to Winwick Parish Council as both a thank-you to local residents for their continued patience during the work and for the long-term lease of the land.
The scheme - part of our £2.9 billion water quality and environmental improvement programme for 2005-2010 - saw engineers installing a new sewer on Maple Avenue and constructing a 180m3 underground storage tank on the recreation ground.
The work is designed to prevent sewer flooding to homes on Falcondale Road and Maple Road during periods of heavy rainfall.
From Monday, March 1 work of an altogether different kind will start on behalf of the parish council to build the new play area, which we hope will bring fun and happiness to children in the local community.
Tony Clinton, a Project Manager for United Utilities, said: "The contribution we've made to the council is our way of giving something back to the community following the disruption our work has caused.
"Although the work was essential in resolving the deeply unpleasant problem of sewer flooding to homes on Falcondale Road and Maple Avenue, we appreciate that residents around the Myddleton Lane area were affected in the short-term by this work in order to deliver long-term benefits elsewhere.
"We are delighted that the council has decided to build the play area and we hope that children will enjoy it."
Alan Smith, Chairman of the Parish Council, said: "We are delighted that the parish council has been able to use its Myddleton Lane Recreation Ground as a resource to enable the issue of flooding in the area to be resolved.
"We are also delighted that the contribution we have received from United Utilities will enable the building of the new toddlers' play area - which will be a fully enclosed facility - allowing very young children to play in complete safety."
Work to build the play area is expected to take up to four weeks to complete.
A date for the official opening of the area is to be confirmed once work on-site is finished.
- ends -