Pride In Pill’s Unsuccessful Bid For Lottery Funding To Renovate Local Park

5th September 2016

A NEW play area could be built in Pill if a funding application by a Newport community group is successful.

The Pride in Pill group is putting together an application for a £50,000 from the National Lottery People’s Projects scheme, which will be used to build an entirely new play area in Mendalgief Road, replacing the tired and run-down park off Courtybella Terrace, which has been plagued with littering, drug-taking and other problems.

The People’s Projects programme offers grants of up to £50,000, with winners of funding chosen by public vote.

Paul Murphy of Pride in Pill said he wanted to be able to offer a safe and enjoyable area for youngsters in the area to enjoy.

“It would be safer for the kids and it would be on a bus route like Tredegar Park and Belle Vue Park,” he said.

“There’s lots of people going into the current park and injecting drugs – we see needles there all the time.”

Mr Murphy added the new play area, to be named the Pride in Pill Park, would be fenced off and locked between 7am and 10pm, deterring drug users, with a volunteer warden on hand at all times.

“I think its a good idea, he said.

“I know there’s a lot of work that needs to be done like getting planning permission.

“But the people benefiting would be the kids and the community.

Update: Applicationfor lottery funding was unsuccessful 🙁