Warton residents have their say on investment in the village recreation ground
Led by the Local Parish Councillors, Warton residents have now completed the village engagement process on how the £145,519 Section 106 funding for the Recreation Ground should be used, with more than a third of the village taking part in the process.
The engagement was organised to give residents a direct say in how funding linked to local development should benefit the community and improve Warton’s open spaces.
Strong Community Participation
Each Household and business had one vote, and the final verified turnout was 37% of the village.
182 were submitted via the online system
94 through paper leaflets (thanks to the village shop for collecting)
All voting documentation and records were also independently verified by the Residents Association to ensure transparency and accuracy.
What have residents asked for?
The most requested improvement by a considerable margin was new playground equipment for the Recreation Ground.
Importantly, the available funding should also allow the delivery of the next two most requested improvements:
- new safety surfacing for parts of the play areas
- a pathway around the park to improve accessibility and year-round use
These results show how our village is changing, with a strong desire from residents to improve the Recreation Ground in ways that benefit families and children, as well as the wider community.
Next Steps
The delivery phase of the project will now move forward under the oversight of Polesworth Parish Council. The council has confirmed that procurement will follow statutory financial regulations and the requirements set out within the Section 106 agreement. This process will include:
- evaluation of local contractors
- obtaining competitive quotations
- ensuring best value for money for residents
Discussions will now move towards implementation planning and agreeing a timeline for delivery. Further meetings are expected to take place in the coming weeks as the project progresses.
The Warton Residents Association will continue to support the process, and our local councillors, and will provide further updates to residents as more information becomes available.