WORK has started to provide a new play park in Launceston — and the public can help to fund one of the first pieces of play equipment through an online crowdfunding campaign.

The Post has previously reported on a group of Lanstephan residents’ efforts to transform a piece off land off St Mary’s Road into a play area.

Recently the Lanstephan Pocket Park committee has secured grants from Cornwall Council, Tesco’s carrier bag charge levy scheme to benefit communities, called ‘Bags of Help’, the town’s Rotary Club, and money from the Department for Communities and Local Government’s ‘Pocket Park’ fund.

The Lanstephan Pocket Park committee is seeking donations towards a nest swing for the park before its online crowdfunding campaign ends in around nine days’ time.

The total the committee would like to achieve through the online fundraising is £500, and is around halfway to that target.

To achieve its aims for the site will cost the committee in excess of £56,000, and the group’s recent newsletter said it has £33,000 agreed so far.

To read more about the project and donate online towards the play equipment, visit https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/debbie-gabriel-1

Launceston Town Council agreed to take on the ownership and maintenance of the play area, once it is ready.

Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan said last week: “I think the residents of Lanstephan have done really well to take this project on and I commend them.”

Work on the area started last week — the first phase resurfacing with tarmac.

Iris Lindsay of the play park committee said of work starting: “It’s really exciting. It’s all happening and local residents are very supportive and are really getting behind us.

She expressed thanks to everyone who has donated to the crowdfund campaign so far.

The committee hopes to hold an information hour on site this Saturday morning (April 30) from 10.30am to 11.30am, where people can find out more about the plans and make a donation in person should they wish to.

The play area committee can also be found on Facebook by searching Lanstephan Area Play Park (LAPP), and can be contacted by emailing [email protected] or call 07901 748979.