Meetthe group of mums campaigning to get one of the Island’s playgrounds refurbished.

The Friends of Lovell Road is a group of nine mums who aim to get the Lovell Road play area in Minster fitted with new equipment.

Belinda Skinner, of Tysoe Court, Minster, set up the group after deciding it was time to do something about it.

The group hope to raise enough money to fit some new equipment to replace the out-of-date items there now and also want to make the park more appealing to older children.

Goals

In the grass area, they hope to put up some sided goals so the children can play football without the ball going into surrounding gardens and also install some teenage seating so they have somewhere to go, as well as more benches for everyone to use.

Mum-of-four Belinda said: “There is an existing play area but the equipment is about 25 years old – we want to revamp it with up to date equipment that is more suitable for children now.

“There is a dried up pond in the middle of the park so we are hoping to use that to put a lot more equipment.

“I think it’s a lovely park but it’s just not used.

“We are lucky to have a nice place like that on our doorsteps so we want to improve it.”

The Friends of Lovell Road hope to raise £100,000 to secure the equipment they need.

The other members of the group are Gayle Evans, Julie Stephenson, Denise Brown, Belinda Beattie, Lisa Krom, Dawn Birtchnall, Clare McKenna and Helen Hemus – who are all mums from the area.

The Friends of Lovell Road is holding a jumble sale on Saturday, November 15, in the Borough Hall, Queenborough, from 10am – 2pm. Everyone is welcome, and there will also be a tombola, raffle and cake stall.

Alan Marolia, parks and children’s play officer at Swale Borough Council, said “We are working closely with Mrs Skinner on this, support her, and understand this is a matter about which she is passionate.

“Regrettably, at present we only have a maintenance budget for this site but other council officers and I are working closely with Mrs Skinner to help the group secure funding in order to refurbish the park.

“We are making the group aware of any opportunities that arise to apply for external money and are assisting them with making funding applications.

“We have promised Mrs Skinner that we will maintain the park should funding be secured so that we have a safe, sustainable play facility for the future.”