New sewage-free playground for New Malden

8:28pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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A New Malden playground contaminated with sewage is to be replaced.

After a long fight with residents and the council, Thames Water has agreed to pay for the new Green Lane playground away from parts of the existing park that suffer from sewage and water flooding.

Councillor Derek Osbourne said the new £224,000 would replace the one the council was forced to close last summer for health and safety reasons.

"This agreement with Thames Water is fantastic news," Coun Osbourne said.

"It means that residents who have had to put up with a facility that is not fit for purpose because of frequent flooding will soon have one of the best playgrounds in the borough on their doorstep.

"We are keen to get things moving as quickly as possible and we want to involve residents in choosing the new equipment and deciding the exact location of the new playground, so they should hear from us very soon."

The re-sited playground will feature a combination of new and existing play equipment, a dog-free picnic area, better fencing and an improved path.

The site of the existing playground will be turned back in to green open space.