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Group Aims To Create New Play Area In Millmead

Published on: 17 Jun, 2016
Updated on: 19 Jun, 2016

Guildford could soon be enjoying a new town centre playground if the ambitions of Westnye Gardens Community Group comes to fruition.

Westnye Gardens, off Millmead.

Westnye Gardens, off Millmead.

A group of parents living around Millmead, the Mount and Portsmouth Road approached Guildford Borough Council last autumn to highlight that there is a  lack of local play facilities in the area.

Spokesperson Eve Jaques said: “Coincidentally, the council’s Play Strategy, which was published earlier this year came to the same conclusion. Since then our community group and the council have been working together to address this problem.

“The site, which is the frontrunner for a park, is Westnye Gardens. It’s a little walled garden just along from the Britannia pub on the river front.

“It is underused and in a bit of a sorry state, but is a great location for local children and for people visiting the town centre. Think about those shopping trips when the kids need to burn off some energy!

“This site offers the perfect location for a shopping break, and perhaps a picnic in the summer.

“There are some hurdles in the way: some legal restrictions need to be addressed, a consultation will then be run, and a bidding process will be conducted during which a contractor and design will be chosen. We hope that the new playground will be finished by the end of 2017.”

Eve added that if anyone would like to follow the group’s progress and would like to support the idea, is welcome to join its Facebook group called Westnye Gardens Community Group. 

Eve said: “We have a photo competition at the moment, the prize for the best photo taken in Westnye Gardens is a dinner for two at the Britannia pub!”

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Responses to Group Aims To Create New Play Area In Millmead

  1. Carol Norris Reply

    June 17, 2016 at 4:42 pm

    Is Westnye the new name for my old home Westbury House?

    I am very interested in the idea that the gardens should provide a play space for local children and would appreciate more information about this exciting idea.

  2. Dave Middleton Reply

    June 23, 2016 at 2:22 pm

    “a consultation will be run”

    “the new playground will be finished by the end of 2017”

    Sounds to me like the decision has been made to install this playground already, regardless of any so called consultation.

    Westnye Gardens is one of the very few quiet spaces in Guildford town centre, a place where I, as an adult, would regularly go, free of charge, when I lived in the town centre in a flat without any open space attached to it. It is a peaceful oasis and should be left as such, without screaming children and invariably under used play facilities spoiling it.

    If you have children, it’s up to you to entertain them, without inflicting them on other people seeking a bit of peace and quiet.

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