A COUNCIL has appealed for disabled groups and families to help them design East Lancashire's first inclusive play areas for all children.

Hyndburn Council have called for the help before the start of the £180,000 work on play areas at Oakhill Park, Accrington, and Mercer Park, Clayton-le-Moors.

The ground-breaking play areas will conform to strict guidelines laid out by the National Playing Fields Association and will be the first of their kind in the area.

Fully integrated

The play areas will meet all the criteria of a Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play. They will be fully integrated so disabled and able-bodied children can play together, and have a kick-about area and an all-weather sports area.

Another play area at Rhyddings Park, Oswaldtwistle, costing £50,000. meets the less strict Local Equipped Area for Play standards.

The work is part of a major overhaul of the borough's play areas which could also look at refurbishing other areas in Church, Harwood Road recreation ground, Highams playing fields and Lyndon Avenue, Great Harwood.

Major scheme

The scheme will be funded by money laid out in this year's budget for major building works, from area council and agreements between large housing developers.

Coun David Myles, cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, said: "This is a major scheme.

"We are at the planning stage at the moment where we are looking at what equipment needs to be used and the best way to go about it.

"We would like any advice we can get from groups, parents, families who can help us build something that meets their requirements."

A good thing

Pat Day, chairman of Hyndburn Access Group, said: "It has been a long time coming but at last they are doing something, I am quite surprised about it."

Coun Tim O'Kane, ward councillor for Clayton-le-Moors said: "Any money which have been secured for the betterment of Clayton people can only be a good thing."

Coun Myles can be contacted on 07931 199300.