NORTH Cornwall District Council's Community Services Committee agreed on Monday that responsibility for land used by both the Lanstephan Play Commit­tee, Launceston and the Berries Avenue Regeneration Committee, Bude be handed over to them.

The Lanstephan Play Committee and Berries Avenue Regeneration Committee have both been successful in securing money for the provision of play equipment on play area sites owned within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

Lanstephan Play Committee wish to secure £204,713 of funds to develop the play facilities on a large tarmac area and overgrown green space, at the bottom of St Mary's Road, adjacent to the footpath to Broad Park in Launceston.

To date they have secured £32,184 by way of the NCDC Play Fund towards the purchase of equipment. Through fund­raising and other local benefactors they have raised £2,550 for ongoing maintenance.

Lanstephan Play Committee wished to lease this area of land from the council for a 21 year period for a nominal fee (£1).

Members of the Community Services Com­m­i­ttee agreed to support the leasing of the land. As part of the project proposal, the play committee will be responsible for maintaining the equipment and ensuring the safety and cleanliness of the site.

It is the Lanstephan Play Committee's intention to fundraise and make claims from various local forum/organisations to support the ongoing maintenance of this play area.

NCDC members agreed to commit to the provision of an annual grant towards Lanstephan Play Committee, equivalent to the cost of their Public Liability Insurance, as a gesture of support and good will. The sum will be met by the general fund.

Berries Avenue Regen­eration Committee, Bude have also been very active over a number of years fundraising and trying to secure money to improve the play area at Berries Avenue, Bude. There is currently a slide and other play equipment on site and residents wish to replace this with new equipment.

The committee have been granted £17,000 from NCDC and a further £24,000 through their NCDC Play Fund application. It is their aim to use this £41,000, plus other monies which they have raised locally, to provide new play facilities.

Berries Avenue Regeneration Committee did not wish to lease the land and wished the council to retain ownership. However, NCDC refused this request and agreed on Monday to ask Berries Avenue Regeneration Committee to take on the land by way of a lease, or seek an alternative group/organisation to work in partnership with them to take on this responsibility, similar to the approach proposed for Lanstephan.

If suitable lease arrangements could be agreed for the area of land, it was proposed that similar conditions of lease be included.

Berries Avenue Regener­ation Committee had also requested that NCDC organise for the play equipment to be installed, insured and maintained. The group was willing to fundraise to support the ongoing maintenance costs but did not want to be tied with the responsibility for longer term arrangements.

Again, NCDC refused this request and expects Berries Avenue Regener­ation Committee to take on the responsibilities, similar to the Lanstephan group.

In a report prepared by Stuart Blackie, Head of Housing Services, he said: "Both projects are hugely ambitious and officers do not wish to dampen the communities' enthusiasm for these projects, but at the same time neither the General Fund nor the HRA wishes to carry the cost of future maintenance and responsibility.

"Officers will of course continue to give help and advice to the groups to assist them in achieving the capacity within the groups to themselves manage the projects."