THE long-awaited new play area for the Great Field in Dorchester has been revealed – after months of delay.

Poundbury ward councillor Richard Biggs warned earlier in the year that unless progress was made soon there might be nothing in place for this summer.

The Duchy first submitted an application for the site at the end of October but had to wait until mid-January when Dorset Council invalidated it. There was then a further delay while the Duchy responded to the council’s actions resulting in the application only now being made available for public consultation.

The delays in the planning system were criticised by Councillor Biggs at a town council meeting, telling colleagues at the time: “These delays are frustrating for people trying to do things – if we miss this window it could be too late and it could be another year before anything is installed.”

Dorset Council says it invalidated the original application on January 14 and by the third week in March had still not received any response to its correspondence from the Duchy.

The application, reference number WD/D/20/002706, which can be viewed on the Dorset Council planning site, details a range of timber-framed equipment behind the new Pavilion together with details of extensive hard and soft landscaping for the area.

Once completed the maintenance of the area will be taken over by Dorchester Town Council, which already looks after other play areas on the Duchy estate. These include a basketball court with football goals, a play area for children, with a zip line, and outside gym equipment, opposite the new site.

Planning for the play area dates back to November 2017 when a public consultation exercise was held with nearly 400 responses from residents, businesses, community groups and local schools.

The Duchy say that themes from that exercise include provision for a wide range of ages, using natural materials, swings, slides and climbing bars, using natural elements such as boulders for climbing and the provision of Parkour equipment.

Duchy officials say that as a result the new play area will include – a Queen swing, climbing wall, lounging logs, horizontal bars, climbing structure, large play structures reflecting local buildings such as the Buttercross, “The Whistling Witch” and Brownsword Hall, rotating discs, three jumping discs, nest swing, toddlers twin swing, a play structure based on the Brownsword Hall, a totter beam, straight balancing beam, play horse cart, trailer and water play for younger children.

Seating for children and supervising parents/guardians will be provided around the facility.

The application will remain open for public comment until May 5 after which Dorset Council will assess the responses before deciding whether or not to approve the application.