The Bartons Playground Appeal 2024

The Playground, situated in the Bartons War Memorial Playing Fields, is the only facility of its type for residents of the parishes of Steeple Barton and Westcote Barton in North Oxfordshire and the immediately surrounding area. It is a rural area and the only public transport is a community run bus service. The current wooden equipment is rotting below ground level and some of it is not appropriate for the age group that uses it most which is pre-school and primary school ages. We want to replace and improve the playground, making it into a colourful, exciting adventure area  which will be easier to maintain and have a much longer life than we  have currently got. The immediate plan replaces the three swings and the multi-play and adds a multi-ability roundabout, a large slide, a ground level trampoline  and a traditional seesaw. This will require at least £70,000 but if more can be raised then there is plenty of space to add additional items including some extra small rides for toddlers. (The existing toddler rides were added more recently and do not need replacement.) The Charity that owns and manages the playing fields has a very limited regular income stream which has to be used for day to day running and maintenance costs. We do not receive any regular support for the maintenance of the playground from either of the parishes, nor the West Oxfordshire District Council nor the Oxfordshire County Council. Any major expenditure has to be met by fund raising and grants. This playground is well used, particularly after school, at weekends and in the school holidays. It is used by the Village Toddler group and is frequently visited by people from the surrounding area including by a group of children with mental and physical issues.