A SCHEME to build a safe and challenging play facility for children and families in Lostwithiel has been awarded its £1,500 prize.
The Lost in Play project, which is run by a dedicated group of local volunteers, triumphed in the Community South West competition after winning the Cornish public vote.
Nearly 10,000 people cast votes to choose four winners – one each in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset – as part of the Community South West Campaign.
The campaign was launched in February by TV presenter Monty Halls.
It followed independent research commissioned by Cornish Mutual which found that 94 per cent of people in Cornwall felt community spirit played a key part in making their neighbourhood a good place to live. Lost in Play started fundraising last year after the town lost its slide and see-saw to disrepair.
The scheme has two phases, the first to renovate the play area in Lostwithiel's Coulson Park, for younger children, and the second to create a larger facility for older children on the site of the existing playground in King George V Field.
The Community South West prize has put the group in a position to start tendering for the first phase and Dave Bersey, insurance inspector at Cornish Mutual, presented volunteers and children with their cheque.
He said: "Having a safe and fun place for children and families to congregate is integral to the success of a community and Lost in Play have been working very hard to achieve this. It is a real pleasure to be able to present the Community South West prize to the local community here and it is especially exciting to know that winning this prize is allowing things to get under way on the project."
Lost in Play chairman Rebecca Bettin said: "Winning the prize has been a real boost. As well as putting us in a position to start tendering, it has showed us just how much the community is behind the project."
For more information about Lost in Play, visit: www.facebook.com/LostwithielLostInPlay
