THE Leader of Essex County Council was on hand to officially open the first phase of new play equipment at Ridgewell Village Hall. 

County Councillor David Finch visited the village hall and playing field to open the newly developed play area. 

Mr Finch, along with Nick Rouse, Chairman of the Hall Improvement Project, and a host of villagers, including many children, braved the torrential rain to hear short speeches and to see Mr Finch cut the ribbon. 

Four major pieces of equipment were installed in this first phase, a Mastodont, a small ship, a zip Wire and a three bay junior swing costing £39,500. 

Money for this first phase of the park development came from a combination of the Essex County Council Community Initiatives Fund, the Braintree District Council Mi Community Fund and the Tom Amos Charity. 

The second phase will see the quality of equipment enhanced even further. 

The Parish Council are hoping to add swings, a merry go round, a quadro seal springer as well as a nature trail set. 

Acquiring funding for this second stage is still ongoing, but the council are confident of seeing installation by late 2017. 

The equipment was officially opened on November 12. 

Ridgewell District Councillor, Iona Parker, and Martin Woods, Managing Director of Lars Laj UK, the supplier of the equipment, joined Councillor Finch and Mr Rouse in attendance. 

Mr Rouse highlighted the importance of the support that had been received from our fund providers for the play equipment and for the very ambitious and exciting project in progress for the whole site.

While Councillor Finch was particularly complimentary of the community effort and support that had been demonstrated in achieving the delivery of this element of the project.

The Parish Council view the village hall and playing field as extremely valuable assets and want to see them used as frequently over the next 60 years as they have been since 1957 when they were built by public subscription.