Funding success for additional play improvements at Johnston Recreation Ground, Willaston

Children in Willaston will soon be able to climb, slide and scramble on a large new piece of play equipment at Johnston Recreation Ground, thanks to a £23,000 grant from funding body FCC Communities Foundation.

The funding for new equipment has been secured from FCC’s Community Action Fund, together with match funding secured by the Willaston Residents and Countryside Society (WR&CS), Cheshire West and Chester Council and a contribution from the local ward member’s budget.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “I am delighted with this great news, and I am enthused by the positive partnership working between Willaston Residents and Countryside Society and the Council to secure additional funding support for additional play equipment at Johnston Recreation Ground.

“It is essential the quality of our play areas and green spaces is maintained and enhanced where possible.  It’s long been recognised that green spaces and play areas play an important role in our communities for the contribution they make to health and wellbeing.”

Sarah Shannon from WR&CS said: “This is the third and final stage in a long-term plan to improve our play area.  Many local groups and individuals have supported the play area appeal and without doubt the enthusiasm they have shown will have convinced FCC of the need for a large climbing unit.  The next step is to appoint a contractor to do the work, supported by the Council’s procurement procedures and we will keep the community informed about progress.”

Richard Smith (Senior Grant Manager) FCC Communities Foundation Ltd said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the play area improvements at Johnston Recreation Ground and pleased our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for children and young families across Willaston. FCC Communities Foundation is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”

Details of when the equipment will be installed will follow when plans are confirmed.

• FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund. Since 1998, FCC Communities Foundation has granted over £200m to more than 7,000 projects which benefit people living within 10 miles of a FCC Environment landfill site. For more information please visit www.fcccommunitiesfoundation.org.uk

• FCC Environment is the leading UK waste and resource management company and is part of a global group with a strong heritage in providing services for communities and business. Its vision is to be the environmental company of choice, delivering change for a sustainable future. It employs 2,400 people and operates more than 200 facilities across England, Scotland and Wales. FCC Environment donates the landfill tax credits that are generated by its operations to FCC Communities Foundation, in order to add value to the environmental and social infrastructure of the communities around landfill sites. www.fccenvironment.co.uk

• The Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund - any waste that is discarded which cannot be reused, reprocessed or recycled may ultimately be disposed of in a landfill site. To encourage the re-use, recycle and recovery of more value from waste and use more environmentally friendly methods of waste disposal, Landfill Tax is charged on each tonne of waste sent to landfill. Landfill Operators (LOs) are able to redirect a small proportion of landfill tax liability to support a wide range of community and environmental projects in the vicinity of landfill sites through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF). The LCF is regulated by ENTRUST on behalf of HM Revenue & Customs, and the projects are delivered by enrolled Environmental bodies (EBs). The SLCF is regulated by SEPA on behalf of Revenue Scotland and projects are delivered by Approved Bodies (ABs).