RESIDENTS in Earby have been told they will be consulted when it comes to deciding how to improve the Rushton Street Play Area.

They are also keeping their fingers crossed that the council's decision this week to bid for more funding for the work will be successful.

Members of the West Craven Committee had already allocated £8,000 from the committee's capital budget to upgrade the playground and councillors decided at this week's meeting to go ahead with a bid for matched funding from the council's central budget to take it up to £16,000.

They are also hoping for some further funding from the parish council and other sources.

Refurbishment work on the play area could involve removing the current surfacing and run-down equipment, installing new play equipment, surfacing, fencing, dog grids and gates and soiling for where equipment has been removed.

Residents have already put forward several suggestions at a public meeting with councillors and council representatives but were told that there was not a large enough budget for all their ideas.

It was decided this week that a small number of resident representatives should be shown around various play areas in the borough and in nearby towns to give them a wider choice of options which may be within an envisagable budget.

Previous suggestions included fencing and dog grids around the area to keep the dogs out, a a dog toilet or separate walking area for them, better lighting to dissuade the youths who meet there in the evening and a bollard to replace the gate in a bid to stop people driving in cars and motorcycles.

Colin Patten, services manager for Parks, Cemeteries and Outdoor Recreation, said: "There is a definite need to do something with that playground. We recognise that, the residents recognise that and the elected bodies recognise that so because we are all of the same frame of mind there's a huge force pushing in the same direction.

"We need to consult with residents and draw up plans that really satisify their need. After all, their kids will be playing on it. I pointed out to them that to put in a reasonable play ground it would cost around £50,000 and they hadn't realised it could be that much.

"We clearly don't have that money available to us at the moment so we are looking at the money we know we do have. If we are successful with the match funding that will give us £16,000 and we will try and get other funding from other sources."

It was also agreed that the work may have to be done in phases rather than as a one-off development.