Where to put a Paignton play park?

Few doubt the need for a modern play park facilitiy in Paignton. Where to put such an attraction though has fueled many an argument in our seaside town.

Pending funding being agreed (which looks highly likely) Paignton’s central seaside green will by the sacrificial spot for the £450,000 project. Work is schelduled to begin in the autumn.

The green is synonymous with many of the town’s flagship events – most notably the regatta but also others like Torbay Carnival and the BMAD bike festival.

Organisers of these events have campaigned against building such a facility on the green – saying that their respective chairity festivals would be  jeapardised by being dramatically down-scaled. At worst some events could be lost from the green altogether.

Supporters of a play park facility on the green say that the seafront is in dire need of something fresh that will encourage more families to the area therefore bringing much-needed revenue to local businesses.

They argue that blocking such a scheme for events that happen for just several days in the summer is detrimental to the overall benefit offered to Paignton.   

Suggested alternative central locations for a play ground seem to be few and far between though. Victoria Park has been thrown up by some as a viable alternative.

With some existing facilities for youngsters already in the park a new development though would likely be an upgrade – not quite the exciting ‘brand spanking new project’ that many feel the area needs.

Whatever the outcome - the debate will no doubt continue for many month.