![Cllr Sarah Courtney outside Halifax Town Hall](https://news.calderdale.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Cllr-Sarah-Courtney-e1695383531283.jpg)
Work to transform a playground in Mixenden will start this month, creating a new inclusive and accessible play area for everyone to enjoy.
Calderdale Council is delivering improvements in the area around Ash Green Community Primary School, including works to the playground on Sunnybank Road. The playground improvement works are funded by the Council, UKSPF and Active Calderdale.
Construction work on the planned upgrade will start on Monday 22 July. It will involve the creation of a bigger facility, with modern new play equipment, including a wheelchair-accessible roundabout and adapted swings. There will be places to sit, including wheelchair-friendly picnic benches, new trees creating natural shade and shelter, and rain gardens.
To enable work to safely take place, the playground will be closed for four weeks. Once complete, visitors will be able to enjoy fun and challenging equipment, with options for both younger and older children.
Work in Mixenden is also continuing on improvements to the road layouts around Sunnybank Road and Ash Tree Road as part of the Ash Green Community Streets project(external link), with funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, through the Government’s Active Travel Fund.
New raised crossings and wider pavements are being created to provide more space for people walking, cycling and wheeling. The work will ultimately create safer routes around the area, encouraging active travel and supporting safer journeys to the school.
Trees and planting will also create a more attractive environment, complementing landscaping improvements taking place at the playground, with sustainable features contributing to net zero targets and supporting the Council’s priority commitment to climate action.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said:
“As part of our investment in north Halifax, it’s great to see work progressing to improve the area around Ash Green Community Primary school.
“The upcoming work at Sunnybank Road playground will include upgrades to equipment supporting outdoor play and providing opportunities for young people to be more active. The larger and more accessible area, with seating areas and landscaping, will also improve the experience for local families, creating a more pleasant place in which to spend time.
“Alongside ongoing improvement works to nearby roads as part of the Ash Green Community Streets project, this will enable people in the Mixenden area to enjoy a safer and more attractive environment, where active travel choices are more appealing.”
This investment in north Halifax is part of an unprecedented level of investment in Calderdale helping to grow the economy, reduce inequalities and build a sustainable future. Discover Calderdale The Next Chapter(external link).
The Next Chapter for Calderdale supports the Vision 2024 for Calderdale to be a place where everyone can live a larger life. Calderdale reached its 50th anniversary on 1 April 2024. This is the ultimate year for the Vision 2024 for Calderdale. Find out more about it here: www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision
As 2024 closes, the transition to the new Vision 2034 for Calderdale will begin, encouraging local communities to be bold and ambitious about what can be done next to make Calderdale a better place for all.