A NEW lease for a village playground that has been closed for more than a year could be ready to sign this month.
Gainford Activity Park, situated on land owned by nearby St Osmund’s Catholic Church, was closed after a safety inspection condemned some of the equipment.
Plans to refurbish the park have been hampered after it was discovered Gainford Parish Council’s lease on the area had expired and negotiations with the diocese have been ongoing to secure a new, long-term agreement.
At their latest meeting, chairman Cllr Andrew Wilkinson told members solicitors had now been instructed to receive a new lease.
He added: “A 25-year lease has been negotiated at a modest rent of £25 a year and that is in hand and we could have a lease ready to sign in January.”
Cllr Simon Platten said: “That’s great news.”
Cllr Carole Jackson added: “It’s been a long time coming.”
Cllr Wilkinson added: “I had a meeting on site with the play people, but there was a slight gap at their end due to staff movements.
“They didn’t receive the up dated specifications, but they will have a re-costed quote, best case by January.
“It has to be on site in spring. We are nearly there. We seem to have made head way this last 12 months, but it has felt like a lot longer.”
