A COMMUNITY is celebrating a £60,000 renovation of its playground after several years of fundraising.

The bid to revamp the playing fields at Scruton, near Bedale, North Yorkshire began more than five years ago when monthly inspections and annual RoSPA Play Area Safety Inspection reports identified that a significant proportion of the old play equipment needed replacing.

But after several years of work, the renovated play area is set to reopen this Saturday (September 20.)

Phil Emison, chairman of Scruton Playing Fields Committee said: “Over the last five years it became apparent that the equipment really needed taking down.”

“It was put up in the early 1980s and it got to the point where it was costing too much to keep it in a decent state and so we kept pulling it apart until we were left with just a skeleton of play equipment.”

The association initially set its sights on raising £20,000 for a small-scale renovation of the playing fields, but decided to expand its plans and increase its fundraising target to £60,000 to install seven or eight pieces of equipment for young people of all ages.

The project received a welcome boost when Yorventure awarded them a grant of just under £30,000, through funds generated from Yorwaste Ltd.

Angela Pease, Yorventure Community Projects Manager said: “Yorventure and Yorwaste Ltd are delighted to be able to support the Scruton Playing Fields Refurbishment, which will provide an exciting and challenging play space for children and young people.”

The initiative was also awarded £10,000 by Awards for All and about £12,000 from Hambleton District Council’s Section 106 funding.

The remaining £10,000 was raised locally with initiatives such as a black tie ball, wine tasting and village fetes.

Mr Emison said they worked closely with Nicky Smith at Northallerton and District Voluntary Service Association and Lisa Wilson, from Hambleton District Council, who helped them develop plans and secure the funding.

“It’s been a long time coming round and we’ve had a lot of help from various people,” said Mr Emison.

“The use of the playing field has gone up massively since the new equipment was put in. It’s used by a lot of kids in the village and surrounding area now.

“We’ve had comments from people in Scruton saying their children are staying out all day playing in the park rather than sat in front of the telly.”

Mr Emison said he thought they would continue to improve the play area and the committee intended to regroup next year and consider what they planned to do next.

The official reopening will take place on Saturday between 2pm and 4pm, when there will be a barbecue.