£150,000 revamp of a Newton Abbot play area should go ahead by this Summer.

Teignbridge Council’s executive committee has approved the S106 funding to refurbish the Ashburton Road play area in the town.

Members of the committee heard from Lorraine Montgomery, head of operations, that the ‘proposal will mitigate the current reputational and financial risks from the play equipment which is at the end of its life.’

The play area at Ashburton Road serves a wide area including Highweek, Broadlands, Bradley Valley and Hele Park.

A report said: ‘The play area equipment is reaching the end of its useful life and is having a negative impact on maintenance and puts the council at increasing risk of legal challenge and claims.

‘There is now the opportunity to improve provision at this location using S106 funding.

‘The proposed improvement plan looks at the recreational ground as a whole and where possible will address existing design issues such as the poor access, neighbourhood boundary issues, insufficient barrier controls to the ball area and proposals for additional landscaping works, allowing the site to be developed to its full potential.’

The only alternative to the works was to remove each piece of equipment as it became unsafe, eventually leading to the play area being ‘non-existent’.

Plans for the work could go out to tender with a contract hopefully awarded in February.

Work should begin in March and be completed by early June.

The report concluded the scheme would ‘breathe new life into the play facilities at Ashburton Road, Newton Abbot, which are well used and valued greatly by the community, thus ensuring that they will continue to be available in future years at no or little cost to the public purse.’

Councils can request S106 money from developers towards the costs of providing community and social infrastructure.

Approving the funding, the committee also gave delegated powers to the head of operations, in consultation with the chief finance officer and executive member for leisure, to accept a tender for the works.

District councillor Phil Bullivant said: ‘I am delighted that the playground on Ashburton Road is at last going to be upgraded.

‘The funds provided by developers at Hele Park over the last nine years have been used to produce an attractive and versatile play area to meet the needs of local children with a range of new facilities including a new multi use games area.

‘I hope that the works can be completed before the summer so that children get the full benefit of this investment as soon as possible.’