Estate regeneration is child’s play

Children from the ‘Coalville’ Estate, Weston Coyney, Stoke-on-Trent are celebrating the opening of a new playground they helped to design that has had the official seal of approval from pop star Robbie Williams.

The youngsters played an important role in deciding what facilities would be included in the £90,000 project which includes equipment for toddlers to teens including climbing frames, swings and a grassed area.

Funding for the scheme has been provided by the Riverside Housing Impact Fund, Coalville Residents Association, Robbie Williams’ ‘Give It Sum’ appeal; the Meir and Weston Ward Area Implementation team. The project was opened by James Sells, Chair of Riverside Housing’s Community Partnership and Riverside Housing Divisional Director Chris Flynn.

Forty children voted for their favourite items of play equipment and a ‘graffiti wall’ was set up for them to say what else they would like to see on the estate.

Coalville has a high proportion of young children, but until the playground opened there were no other play areas on the estate. The venture will not only help the children and young people living on the estate, but as many as 1500 people could also benefit including infant school pupils, future residents and visitors to the estate.

Ernie Clarke, chair of the Coalville Residents’ Association, said: “This opening is great news for local children as it gives them a positive way to spend their time out of school. The youngsters have helped design the play area so it really does feel as if it belongs to them.”

Neil Walker, Regeneration Manager of Riverside Housing said: “We are delighted to be joining partner agencies in funding this important play area that will benefit the whole community and offer a positive outlet for youngsters living in and around Coalville. We are all committed to creating an area where future generations want to live and this is an important new landmark in achieving that objective.”


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For further media information please contact Chris Shaw, Riverside Group Public Relations Officer on Tel 0151 295 6496 or Janine Goodison on T 0151 295 6227 or M 07812 63215


Notes to Editors

Riverside Housing manages 80 properties on the Coalville estate and 2,741 homes with 3,373 tenants throughout the Midlands. Riverside Housing is a development partner with the Housing Corporation and has a significant development programme within the Midlands. Riverside Housing is a division of The Riverside Group, one of the country’s leading social housing and regeneration organisations.