Whittlesey and Eastrea Play Areas

Fenland District Council have received £1.5 million from the Pride in Place Impact Fund, to improve existing play areas or to create new ones across the district. This fund is to be committed by January 2027; all proposals have been put forward by local elected members and subsequently have gone out to public consultation. Any works identified in this document are based on feedback from the public. We are therefore, inviting suppliers to tender for Pinewood Avenue, Whittlesey, Thornham Way Eastrea and Station Road, also in Whittlesey. Pinewood Avenue is a housing development which was built some 30 years ago.The current playground is surrounded by domestic properties on all sides, contained within a fenced area and housing 2 pieces of equipment which includes a slide and set of swings. The site is in need of improvement. There is scope to extend the play area whilst also adding additional equipment to better serve the community. We would like to invite suppliers to increase the items in the space to broaden the target age ranges (junior age ranges 5 -12 years) including a range of accessible and inclusive equipment installed to increase usability. We also require durable surfacing to be installed for new additional items such as Rubber bonded mulch, in terms of equipment material, it would be FDC’s preference to not have wooden equipment installed. The map below shows the exact location of where Pinewood Avenue Play area is, the green arrow marks the site. The budget for Pinewood Avenue is £80k, the contractor is not expected to exceed this maximum.

Thornham Way is located in Eastrea, there is a playground situated at the end of the road within an open space. A good selection of equipment is available for toddlers but does lack items for older children. We are inviting suppliers to tender for the installation of swings for older children (7-14 yrs) with rubber bonded mulch beneath, to broaden the age range of usage. No other equipment is required for this site. There is scope to extend the play area to accommodate the swings. In terms of equipment material, it would be FDC’s preference to not have wooden equipment installed.

Current equipment includes: A slide, Cradle Swings, a Multi Play and a Springer/Seesaw. The below map shows where the play area is – the green space with the blank square is where the play area is located. The Budget for Thornham Way is £30k, tenderers are not expected to exceed this maximum.

Station Road is located in Whittlesey, approximately half a mile from the railway station. We are inviting suppliers to tender for the installation of two pieces of equipment, such as a swing and a slide. These are to be located behind the hedge line that borders the open space, and installed closer to the main pathway and hedgeline to increase visibility. The pieces of equipment will ideally be suitable for use by a mixture of ages (toddler/Junior age range), the area is to remain unfenced. Additionally, we would like some durable surfacing to be installed under the items such rubber bonded mulch. including a range of accessible and inclusive equipment installed to increase usability. It is FDC’s preference to not have wooden equipment installed.

The budget for Station Road is £46k, tenderers are not expected to exceed this maximum.