New play equipment revealed at Johnston Recreation Ground in Willaston

Children in Willaston will be excited to see the new large piece of play equipment that has been installed at Johnston Recreation Ground, thanks to a grant from funding body FCC Communities Foundation.

The funding for the 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 the news that the new play equipment is now installed at the play area and I must thank the hard work of the Willaston Residents and Countryside Society working in partnership with the Council to secure the funding needed for the new equipment. Well done all.

“Green spaces and play areas play an important role in our communities for the contribution they make to health and wellbeing especially during these challenging times.”

Sarah Shannon, Secretary of Willaston Residents’ and Countryside Society said: “This is the final stage of a plan to improve the play area which has taken seven years.  We know that children locally have been watching the new equipment being installed with great excitement and we are sure it will be well used.”

Richard Smith (Senior Grant Manager) FCC Communities Foundation Ltd said: “It’s wonderful to see something we have funded finally open and ready to make such a difference to children and young people in Willaston. FCC Communities Foundation is delighted to be involved in this final phase of improvements at Johnston Recreation Ground. We are happy to consider grant applications for projects that benefit local communities and this is a great example of what can be achieved.”

• 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).

Pictured - The new play equipment at Johnston Recreation Ground in Willaston.