Our youngsters need your help (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Our youngsters need your help

Councillor David Glaholm at the site he hopes will be redeveloped Picture Ref: 99834-37VOTE for the Penhill project and make Swindon a better place to live.

The Penhill Park redevelopment scheme is one of two refurbishment projects competing for £50,000 of lottery funding in ITV West's 'People's Millions' contest. And your vote will decide the winner.

Voting begins on October 31 and will see Swindon's Penhill development compete against Bristol's St Paul's Park project. Both projects will be showcased on ITV regional news.

Council funding officer, Daryl Jones said: "If we win, the funds will go towards regenerating the outskirts of the area as well as replenishing the lost amenities that the park had in the 1970s."

The St Paul's Park project is planning to do similar work, making the park a safe, respected and healthy environment for locals. Both schemes propose to improve the derelict plots of land with a multi-use games area.

Penhill Councillor, David Glaholm (Lab) said: "The idea is to create a safe kick-about spot for children and families and to bring everyone in the North of Swindon together."

Representatives have labelled the initiative a 'kick-start' as they believe the lottery funding to improve the area would be the beginning of a much bigger project to build and improve Penhill Park in general.

Jennifer Laibach, who is one of the organisers behind the regeneration proposal said: "If people vote for us to receive the lottery funding award we can begin work to make this area of Swindon a safer, fun place to be."

Swindonians are being urged to show their support by putting in their vote for the Swindon project and to help regenerate the misused area.

Jennifer said: "The park itself is beautiful but some parts are run down and need doing up. We need everyone to get behind us and vote."

Over the next three years £66.5m will be awarded to local community projects nationwide.

Sir Clive Booth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund said: "The Big Lottery Fund continues to explore new ways of connecting the public with the distribution of lottery funding in their area."

Contenders

Swindon will be battling it out for the money against a Bristol-based project.

The Bristol to redevelop and improve the facilities of St Paul's Park.

The fellow contender was nominated for lottery funding by a local group, known as the St Paul's Community Partnership.

The partnership has several projects running and the organisation works to make steps for positive change in the community.

Various internal task groups also communicate continuously with the police and council to improve the quality of life for those who reside there.

If awarded the St Paul's Partnership plans to improve security and provide an all-weather play area facility.

Victoria Ashford