RESIDENTS are being asked to have their say on plans to invest up to £3 million in improving play parks across Teignbridge.

Teignbridge Council has launched a public consultation to help decide which of the 37 play parks owned by the council should be prioritised for future investment.

The project aims to create better parks for children, young people and families, and make play spaces safe, welcoming, and accessible for everyone.

The council wants local communities to play a key role in shaping the improvements and helping to find out what matters most at their local park.

The consultation will gather feedback on how local play parks are used and what improvements matter most to residents.

The findings will help inform decisions and make sure the views of communities are considered alongside technical assessments.

Anyone who uses or would like to use the parks is being encouraged to take part, including: children and young people, teenagers and skateboard or scooter users, older people, people with disabilities or additional needs, walkers, dog owners, and local residents

The consultation closes on September 27.

Play parks will be assessed against a range of measures, such as their condition, accessibility, safety, and local need.

While significant funding is available, it will not be possible to improve every Teignbridge-owned play park.

The assessment process will help prioritise parks and ensure funding is directed to locations where it can have the greatest impact for local communities.

Around £2 million of the funding for play park improvements comes from Section 106 developer contributions, with a further £1 million coming from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Section 106 contributions are payments made by developers to help offset the impact of new development, while CIL is a levy on new development used to help fund local infrastructure.

If responsibility for any parks transfers to town or parish councils in the future, funding for improvements will still be available to support ongoing maintenance and management.

Councillor David Palethorpe, Executive Member for Economy, Estates and Major Projects, said: 'Investing in our play parks is incredibly important and will help improve facilities for children, young people and families across Teignbridge.

‘We want residents and park users to help shape these decisions and tell us what improvements matter most to them, so we can ensure funding is directed where it will have the greatest impact.

‘I would encourage everyone who uses our play parks, or would like to use them in the future, to take part in the consultation and help us create the best possible play spaces for current and future generations.’

Posters featuring QR codes linking directly to the consultation will also be displayed in all 37 parks.

Following the consultation, the council will review the findings, complete park assessments and provide further updates on the next phase.

To complete the survey go to https://teignbridgetalks.teignbridge.gov.uk/play-park-improvement-programme