KIRRIE HILL IMPROVEMENT WORK SET TO GO OUT TO TENDER
PLANS for a major package of improvements to the Hill in Kirriemuir - as part of the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of J. M. Barrie - have passed another hurdle.
The 340,000 first stage of the Neverland play area were given the green light at Angus neighbourhood services committee last week, and the project will now go out to tender.
"The first phase of the improvement programme has been designed to take into account the opinions voiced by the community during the consultation process," explained Angus director of neighbourhood service Ron Ashton in his report to committee.
The major development will be the new play facility, the Neverland Play Area, which celebrates the world of Peter Pan in a combined adventure and toddler play park.
The area will provide play equipment that is geared towards a wide age range and provides a variety of activities for everyone.
The design of the equipment will be sensitive to the location on the Hill and its proximity to the woodland within. Bespoke wooden play figures of Peter Pan characters and paraphernalia of an island/ pirate environment will enhance the feeling of the place.
A key element of the enlarged play area is the provision of bespoke pieces of equipment, one of which will depict the pirate ship of Captain Hook and another unit will represent the Lost Boys' Hide-out or the Wendyhouse.
"The intention is to provide interesting and unique units in the play area, which provide imaginative play that cannot be found anywhere else," added Mr Ashton.
To improve safety on the access road to the hill the whin-dust track around the east side to Double Dykes Road will be closed off for vehicular traffic.
New passing places at regular intervals and barriers installed at both sides of the road while retaining the existing road widths will reduce traffic speeds.
A Heritage and Nature Trail to celebrate the rich local heritage and diverse natural habitats on the Hill will be introduced.
This trail will inform and interpret a variety of points of interest around the Hill through the use of interpretation panels.
Introductory boards at the car parks will inform on the overall history and provide maps, and waymarkers will be erected along the route to aid orientation. The text and design of the interpretation boards will be developed with the help of local schoolchildren.
New improved directional signage will guide visitors to the facilities on the Hill. Additional picnic tables near the main car park and rustic timber seats within the woodland area will be erected to cater for visitors.
A bespoke entrance feature to the park will be produced as a community art project, which will also have a J. M. Barrie and Peter Pan connection.
The design for this community project has not been finalised yet but its conception and implementation is envisaged to be carried out by children and adults from Kirriemuir with the help of an arts consultant.
It is intended that competitive tenders for phase one of the project will be sought in April, with a further report on the tender outcomes to the neighbourhood services committee in May, with an anticipated commencement on site in early August with completion in October.
Members of the neighbourhood services committee welcomed the Neverland play park plans.
"It is another good news story and will be a truly memorable facility," said committee convener Jim Millar.
Councillor Glennis Middleton added: "This certainly looks like a first-class facility. Hopefully it will encourage not just Kirriemuir residents but people from all over Angus to visit."
Kirriemuir councillor Alison Andrews said: "I'm delighted with this new facility and am particularly happy that the area will provide play equipment for a wide age range."
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Weather for Forfar
Thursday 24 May 2012
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