Ribble Valley Borough Council has announced a £750,000 cash boost for its play areas, as part of a wider £6.7mn investment in local sports, leisure, and recreation facilities. The funding aims to enhance all 18 council-owned play areas, including major refurbishments at Salthill, Hawthorne Place, and John Smith’s, as well as the creation of a new play area at Edisford riverbank next year. Council leaders say the accelerated two-year timetable is designed to bring forward planned improvements sooner for the benefit of local children and families.
Comprehensive investment across the borough
The council’s £750,000 allocation forms part of a broader £6.7mn capital programme, described by council leaders as the “biggest and most ambitious” since the authority’s formation in 1974. Beyond play areas, the programme includes:
- A £3mn upgrade to Ribblesdale Swimming Pool
- £1.7mn for a range of new features at Clitheroe Castle
- £550,000 for improvements to the castle keep
- £1.45mn for all-weather sports pitches at a site yet to be confirmed
The investment will cover 18 council-owned play areas across the borough. Work at Salthill play area in Clitheroe has already been completed, while Hawthorne Place in Clitheroe and John Smith’s in Longridge are undergoing phased refurbishments. Planned features for these sites include an agility course, ball zone, family seating, sensory planters, a pirate ship, multi-play station, and inclusive surfacing suitable for toddlers and wheelchair users. The enhancements are designed to cater for a range of ages, with Hawthorne Place having room for up to 30 1–14-year-olds, and John Smith’s able to host up to 70 children aged up to eight.
Stuart Hirst, chairman of the community services committee, explained the rationale behind the accelerated timetable:
“Given uncertainty around the future of local government we want to make sure that our resources are spent locally. We have decided to be ambitious with our capital programme, by reducing five-year schedules to two and bringing forward some schemes already approved in principle. Our reserves have been modestly accrued over many years and, whatever the future holds for Ribble Valley, councillors across the chamber are united in their view that they be spent entirely for the benefit of the borough’s current and future residents.”
This investment demonstrates the council’s commitment to providing local children with improved recreational facilities, and highlights its determination to maintain momentum on broader community improvements.
Aligning local investment with national guidance on play
While the council’s announcement provides details of improvements at individual sites, national guidance emphasises that investments should be planned with both evidence and community engagement in mind. Play England’s briefing on the Government’s Pride in Place programme (14 October 2025) outlines a structured approach to delivering meaningful enhancements in children’s play opportunities.
Central to this is the concept of Play Sufficiency, which considers whether every child has adequate time, space, opportunity, and freedom to play. This framework goes beyond traditional playgrounds to include parks, open and green spaces, streets and neighbourhood areas, school grounds (including out-of-hours access), supervised play settings such as adventure playgrounds, and wider community recreation facilities.
Achieving Play Sufficiency requires more than simply providing play equipment; it involves ensuring accessibility, inclusivity, and integration across communities. Play England’s strategy, It All Starts with Play!, sets out a five-step pathway for councils planning and delivering play improvements. This begins with diagnosis, through Play Sufficiency Assessments and spatial mapping audits to identify gaps and opportunities. Targeting then ensures that resources are allocated where they are most needed, drawing on data such as the University of Sheffield’s National Playgrounds Dataset. Securing projects involves aligning them with local plans and the National Planning Policy Framework, giving play areas statutory weight and supporting long-term maintenance. Delivery focuses on quality and inclusion, making play areas welcoming for all children, including those with disabilities or from disadvantaged communities. Finally, sustaining these improvements requires long-term investment, workforce support, and community partnerships to maintain and develop play opportunities over time.
The Ribble Valley programme demonstrates alignment with several of these principles, incorporating inclusive features such as wheelchair-accessible surfacing, sensory planters, and multi-access play equipment. The council has also committed to completing works across all play areas within a two-year timeframe, reflecting a proactive approach to delivering meaningful improvements in a timely and comprehensive manner.
Delivering local benefits through inclusive design
The enhancements to Ribble Valley play areas aim to benefit children across the borough, with features tailored to different age groups and abilities. Inclusive design elements, such as multi-access play stations and sensory planters, are intended to support a wider range of users, including toddlers and wheelchair users.
Play England’s briefing stresses that inclusive design should be evidence-based and informed by consultation with children and families. While the press release highlights the planned features and the scale of investment, the council has the opportunity to further strengthen delivery by making use of tools such as the Playces digital platform or Borough Profiles. These can help map provision, monitor inequalities, and identify areas for targeted improvements, supporting proportionate investment and ensuring that play opportunities are distributed equitably across the borough.
Efficiency through accelerated timelines
One of the key aspects of the Ribble Valley programme is its accelerated two-year timetable. The council has shortened the original five-year schedule to bring forward approved projects more quickly. While ambitious, this approach aligns with national guidance on evidence-led delivery: prioritising resources, scheduling work efficiently, and monitoring outcomes, all of which are crucial in achieving tangible improvements
By completing work promptly, children and families can benefit from enhanced facilities without unnecessary delay. At the same time, careful planning is essential to ensure that quality and safety are maintained across multiple sites. Play England emphasises that structured frameworks, robust oversight, and long-term maintenance planning are vital to maximising the impact of such investments.
Community engagement and public value
Ribble Valley’s capital programme highlights the council’s commitment to community benefit. Councillors stress that resources, carefully accuulated over the years, are being invested locally to enhace residents’ quality of life. The new and refurbished play areas are designed to offer children safe spaces to play, learn, and develop social skills, while also encouraging physical activity and overall wellbeing.
The council’s programme also complements national initiatives, such as the Pride in Place Impact Fund, which seeks to improve public spaces and foster greater community engagement. By aligning local investment with national guidance, Ribble Valley Borough Council contributes to broader objectives including play sufficiency, ensuring that public funding delivers meaningful outcomes for children.
Balancing ambition and sustainability
While the capital programme demonstrates a strong commitment to play, Play England emphasises that lasting benefits require planning beyond initial installation. Long-term maintenance, supervision, and evaluation are crucial to sustaining high-quality play experiences. Features such as adventure playgrounds or staff-supported settings can further enhance the social, emotional, and developmental benefits for children.
Ribble Valley’s £750,000 allocation represents a significant step towards improving recreational facilities. However, ongoing monitoring, engagement with families, and integration with broader community initiatives will be essential to achieving sustained impact. The council’s focus on inclusive and accessible play areas demonstrates an awareness of these principles, and future updates on progress and outcomes will provide valuable insight into the programme’s success.
A positive step for Ribble Valley’s children
Ribble Valley Borough Council’s £750,000 cash boost, part of a £6.7mn capital programme, reflects a tangible commitment to enhancing play opportunities for children across the borough. With completed works at Salthill, ongoing upgrades at Hawthorne Place, and an upcoming refurbishment at John Smith’s, the council is delivering visible improvements within a two-year timeframe.
Aligned with Play England’s principles, the programme prioritises inclusivity, accessibility, and a diverse range of play experiences. By maintaining a focus on community engagement, evidence-based planning, and long-term sustainability, Ribble Valley is well placed to ensure that investment in play areas delivers lasting benefits for children and families across the borough.
As local authorities across England implement the Pride in Place programme, Ribble Valley’s approach offers an example of coordinated and ambitious investment in children’s recreation, demonstrating how capital funding can support active, inclusive, and engaging play environments for the next generation.
Friends of Bylines Network
There has never been a greater need for grassroots journalism that investigates the stories that really matter, holds power to account and champions the voices of everyday citizens. We are proudly powered by volunteers but what we do isn’t free.
STAND WITH US for independent, citizen-led journalism that makes democracy stronger, and you will even get some exclusive benefits.
