Four 'flagship' play areas to be built with £1.5m funds

PLANS to build four "flagship" play areas across Newcastle have been approved.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

Newcastle City Council has signed off on a £1.5million proposal that will see play areas in Blakelaw Park, Riverside Country Park in Newburn, Elswick Park and Ouseburn's City Stadium developed into "destination" family attractions.

Councillors were told on Monday evening that the sites would be enhanced with new audio, visual and sensory play equipment, designed to ensure that the spaces are accessible to everyone especially for children with disabilities.

Those four locations are expected to each get around £250,000 worth of upgrades, with seven other playgrounds around Newcastle receiving £90,000 each for refurbishment works.