Work underway on outdoor gym ‘but what we really wanted was the play area’

The gym installation was started in Central Park, Westhoughton, earlier in January and has been made possible by extra funding for park improvements from Bolton Council.

Cllr David Wilkinson, of Westhoughton South, said that the gym work has been met with local criticism and that instead people are much more focused on improvement to the play area.

He said: “But the good thing is we’ve been told there’ll be money for the play area, I know the council said outdoor gym but what we really wanted was the play area.

Play area improvements could also be on the way (Image: My Westhoughton) “I know there will be consultations with ward members about the play area.”

He added: “There’s been no expenditure in that park in terms of outdoor expenditure for the last 15 years now.

“The outdoor play area now, its not just got broken down equipment, its dirty, its old fashioned.

“If you walked across it, you’d probably trip yourself up!

Outdoor gyms are being installed around the borough (Image: My Westhoughton) “So, I’m hoping we’ll see some work on that play area as well as other play areas in Westhoughton.”

Central Park in Westhoughton is one of several parks and green spaces across the borough in line for improvements.

This will be funded by more than £1M from an amendment to last year’s council budget.

Funding has been announced for park improvements (Image: My Westhoughton) The refurbishing work includes installing outdoor gym equipment at eight parks including Westhoughton Central Park with the proposed installation being four double stations.

According to the proposals, equipment will also be installed at Ainsworth Avenue, Tonge Park, Queens Park, Farnworth Park, Wingates, Great Lever Park and Egerton Park. 

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This will involve spending around £250,000 on installing outdoor gym equipment at parks around Bolton. 

But the same document says that Westhoughton Central Park is also in line for around £50,000 worth of funding for improvements to the play area.

In all Bolton Council plans to spend around £685,850 on improving play areas around the borough. 

The council cabinet is expected to decide whether to approve the plans at a town hall meeting on Monday February 3.