Trust outline plans to give “treasured” play area a new lease of life

Plans to rejuvenate a “treasured” play area in Longhope moved a step forward last week.

Councillors at the OIC Asset Management Sub-committee agreed to lease the Longhope Playpark to the Hoy Development Trust for a peppercorn annual rent of £1 for the next 20 years.

During the meeting last week (26 January) Councillors heard that the Trust are keen to redevelop the area to create an improved community play park which will appeal to all age groups.

The next step will be for the Trust – which will be responsible for all maintenance and inspection costs during the period of the lease - to create a development plan and identify potential funding sources.

Deanna Johnston, a spokesperson for the Development Trust said: “The Longhope Playpark is central to the village of Longhope and for many years has provided a safe and fun place to go for the children of the community. In recent times the condition of some of the equipment has deteriorated, and in some cases fallen into disrepair. Due to funding cuts and increasing health and safety measures amongst other issues, it has resulted in the complete decommissioning of a number of items.

The Longhope Playpark is used not only by the community which provides a nurturing environment for its children, but by visitors to Hoy and Walls as well. It is an essential part of island life and due to these unprecedented times with Covid-19, it has never been more prevalent to ensure the protection of everyone's health and wellbeing which these spaces are essential for providing.”

Folk in Hoy and Walls joined forces to form the Longhope Playpark Group; a sub-group of the Island of Hoy Development Trust.

Deanna continued: “Plans and ideas were discussed at length and so the project with the idea of taking ownership and renovating the much loved, and necessary, playpark was born.

“The sub-group has a desire to ensure that the playpark provides a usable space for all. Plans consist of hiring a consultant to assist with the project and engage with the community to achieve an outcome which works for the whole island. Interest in the project continues to grow and as a result, the sub-group successfully gained the support of Your Island Your Choice funding due to the project's popularity. In addition, the sub-group embarked on other fundraising ideas and are continually adding to the pot.

“The group certainly has their work cut out for them as it will not be an easy process to reinstate the space as a playpark given its current state. The future of the Longhope Playpark and sustainability of the project relies solely on decisions which are made here on in, and obtaining the lease is a monumental step in the right direction. We will now seek to secure funding from outside organisations.

“We are appealing for anyone interested in helping to join the sub-group team and together we hope that we can achieve the resurrection of this truly treasured facility.”

OIC Education, Leisure and Housing Committee Chair Gwenda Shearer said she was delighted that another piece of the jigsaw towards the improvement works had been put in place.

“Projects such as these have been hugely successful in other areas of Orkney and I commend the communities of Hoy and Walls for taking this forward for the creation of, what I am sure, will be a great asset to the island.”

The proposal meets the objectives of Orkney’s Play Area Strategy and National Play strategy.