MORE than £100,000 is going towards better play areas across Worcester in a big summer overhaul.

Worcester City Council is splashing £50,000 on a new play park at the Green Centre in Gresham Road, Dines Green including swings, slides, rocking and rotating equipment.

The revamp means the site will be closed off from this Tuesday, June 24 to Friday, July 11.

A total of £58,000 is going towards improved play facilities in five other parts of Worcester including:

- A revamp of Ronkswood Community Centre's play zone with new swings and a climbing net, meaning it is temporarily closed but is likely to re-open this Monday

- A bigger and better Oaklands play area by Aconbury Orchard, Warndon villages with a new climbing unit, rocker, see-saw and group swing for toddlers; it will be partially closed the week commencing Monday, June 30 for around a fortnight

- Improvements to the play facilities at Horizon Community Centre in Midland Road, with a new climbing frame and repair work to the existing equipment and the surfaces beneath it; it will close for around a week from Wednesday, June 25

- New soft surfacing and a group swing at Howard Road play area in Dines Green, work will take place over two days next week but it will remain open

- A major revamp of the toddler area at Cripplegate Park in St John's, with a replacement trampoline, repaired play house, fresh surfaces and working gates; it will shut from Wednesday, June 25 to Thursday July 3

Part of the money has come from developers handing over cash in return for planning permission to build new homes, known as Section 106 deals.

It follows concerns about the city council attempting to save £10,000 by not replacing play equipment when it is deemed too old, a policy which is being reviewed by the new Conservative leadership.

Councillor Andy Roberts, cabinet member for cleaner and greener, said: "When I think back to the play equipment of years ago, which was either boring or dangerous I realise why my granddaughter and her friends have so much fun in Worcester's parks today.

"I’m delighted to announce that we are making this further investment in Worcester’s play areas."