Stratton Audley’s new playground in Cherry Street was opened on Thursday 1st September at 4pm by the Chairman of the Parish Council, John Honsinger.
In attendance were a large number of children and accompanying parents and grand parents. Thanks were given to Joe Newby from WREN and Nicole O’Donnell from the Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association, as well as to Mike Gore for restoring the much loved horse and Trevor Stewart for building the playground.
Coincidentally, 2016 is the 40th Anniversary of the original opening of the playground in 1976, as a result of the land being given to the community by the Gosling family and thanks were extended to Mrs Gosling for this act of generosity.
One last thanks went to Sarah Howson from Stratton Audley Barn who attended the event with her three wheel Ice-Cream Tricycle. Stratton Audley Barn who have a tea shop now make delicious home made ice cream and everyone present, young and old, was given a free ice cream, whihc on a warm summers day went down extremely well.
The ribbon was cut with the help of a count down from the children and the fun and games began.
Post script
As many residents will know, plans to update the playground have been in the pipe line for a number of years and by 2015 the Parish Council had managed to accumulate a fund of circa £9000 but it wasn’t enough by itself. Following a successful bid to WREN (the environmental body funded by the Landfill tax and set up to support eligible projects) the Parish Council secured a grant of £25,000 and was thereby able to commit to replacing the entire playground with new equipment, the plans for which were shared with residents in advance. Local playground specialist builder Trevor Stewart was commissioned after a thorough bid process.
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