A GIRL has appealed for help to stop her local play area being so boring.

Nine-year-old Nikki-Jo Coleman lives at Grafton Avenue, just a few hundred yards from the Southill, Weymouth, play area.

But Nikki says the site is getting boring and she would like some equipment put in which is more suited for older children such as herself.

She said: "We told the council about this a year ago but nothing has been done.

"There is a roundabout, baby swings, a baby slide and spring seats but nothing really for older children like me.

"I would like to see a big slide and swings for older children. The council said they were going to put some in but nothing has happened.

"Don't let Southill stay boring. Give us something proper to play on."

The council plans to do just that and could make Southill one of six or seven 'super' play areas across the borough.

Weymouth and Portland parks manager Roland Green said that every household in the borough was being surveyed over the next few years to see what they wanted with play areas.

He added: "At the moment it would take £110,000 to bring all borough play areas up to national standard.

"I have recently been able to get hold of £69,000 worth of unused money from past development scheme contributions.

"I have immediately placed an order for £10,000 worth of extra facilities for Southill to replace swings for both toddlers and older children, together with new safety surfaces. These will be installed by the end of September.

"If monies permit we are also looking to see if we can install a new piece of equipment not seen at Southill before - a 4x4 jeep on springs."

He added that he agreed with Nikki-Jo that the Southill play area might be a bit boring, but he said he hoped that would change in a few weeks time.

Mr Green said that Weymouth and Portland was also promoting a play strategy for the whole borough which was currently being discussed with residents and interested groups.

He added: "We propose to have six or seven magnet areas. These are 'super' play areas, if you like, where equipment is available for use by all ages of child.

"At the moment we have about 23 play areas dotted across the borough.

"What we would like to do is close some of them down and make others into super play areas - and Southill might be one of those."