CARDENDEN opted for a fun approach to shaping the area’s future, when ambitious plans to upgrade play equipment in Carden Avenue Park topped voting for the new Community Action Plan.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Electoral Reform Society joined forces to run intensive consultation and workshop sessions, which came up with the projects as part of the Reclaiming Coalfield Communities initiative to boost local democracy.

The CRT provided a £20,000 participatory budget and all five of the projects, were awarded the financial backing they applied for from the Fund, subject to final confirmation.

The Playparks Committee, made up of enthusiastic mums, have been busy fundraising to re-equip the kids' playpark beside Cardenden Primary School after equipment there became no longer usable and was removed.

The committee broke news of their success in the public vote on their Facebook page, posting: “We had a super evening at the Coalfields Communities event at the Bowhill Institute on Tuesday night.

“Thanks very much for everyone that came along to support us. It was great to see so many there supporting all the local community projects. We were delighted that our project received the most votes..

“Thank you very much to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Lorna Bett for the opportunity to apply and for all the help with our application. All very much appreciated”.

The Youth Shelter project, which will be sited in Wallsgreen Park and will give local young people a place of their own to hang out together, took second pace in the vote.

Third place went to Cardenden Environmental Group for their project ‘watching the world go by’ which will see an area of waste ground in Gammie Place converted into a community garden, with flowers shrubs and decorative chipping stones.

Next came the John Thomson Memorial Committee with their plans to organise midnight leagues where local youngsters can build their football skills on the local astro turf pitch.

The final place went to Cardenden Community Development Forum whose Scoop Yer Poop project aims to raise awareness of the nuisance and health threat created when dog owners fail to clear up after their pets.

Steering Group member David Taylor said: “We are now looking forward to seeing these plans come to life, making Cardenden a brighter place, with more facilities, especially for young people.”

Pauline Grandison, the CRT’s Coalfield’s Programme Manager, said: “It was good to see so many groups and individuals taking the opportunity to have a really positive and personal say in the future of their community.

Following the vote there will be an official launch of the Action Plan at a date, which will be announced in due course.