A POPULAR play area is set to open next week following a £40,000 makeover.

Dedham Parish Council was awarded cash from Essex County Council and Colchester Council to revamp the facility on the Duchy Field.

The play area’s bark chippings have been replaced with a new, smooth surface and new equipment includes a climbing frame, funnels and a disabled-friendly swing.

The existing swings and seesaw have been renovated, too.

Sheila Beeton, parish council chairman, said: “The equipment had been there a long time and was quite shabby. The main problem was the base.

“We had bark chippings and the point had come where we were going to have to spend quite a bit of money on the current set-up.”

The old roundabout has also been spruced up and relocoated to another part of the play area.

Mrs Beeton added: “It was looking a bit sad and sorry.

“It has been in the village a very long time, but was not used very much.

“We took it to bits and renovated it and it is also going to be painted. We moved it up to just outside the play area and since it’s been moved it has been so much more loved.

“We hope families will enjoy using the new facilities and we acknowledge with thanks the support of Essex County Council and Colchester Council.”

The parish council asked Essex County Council for money after it invited groups to apply for grants and it gave £15,000 from its Community Initiatives Fund.

Dedham Council also asked Colchester Council to stump up cash and it gave £25,000 from money set aside from developers’ contributions.

The play area is set to be completed by the end of the week and an opening ceremony involving the parish council and Dedham Primary School pupils will take place on Tuesday next week.