Families delighted as Highfields estate finally gets new play area (From Halesowen News)

Families delighted as Highfields estate finally gets new play area

10:40am Tuesday 4th September 2012 in News

DELIGHTED residents on a Halesowen estate are celebrating after finally getting the go-ahead for a multi-use games area.

After years of false dawns and wrangles work is starting on the MUGA on the Highfields estate this week.

Camilla Phillips, from the Hope Centre, galvanised the campaign to ensure Dudley Council went ahead with the new play area in Highfields Park.

She said: “This is great news for so many families on the Highfields estate and hopefully generations can become fitter due to this play area finally being built.”

Belle Vale councillor Jill Nicholls has spent three years campaigning for the multi-use games area and is “delighted” children - especially those from the neighbouring high rise flats, will have somewhere to play other than their tiny balconies.

The MUGA, featuring football, basketball and netball, will take three weeks to install and she hopes it will end the problem of youngsters kicking balls against the walls of the flats and annoying residents.

Fellow Belle Vale councillor Donella Russell also believes the multi-use games area is long overdue.

She said: “Belle Vale, like many areas in Halesowen, has been lacking in play areas for many years. Belle Vale is known nationally as being an under privileged area.

“One of the biggest disadvantages in the area is the lack of play facilities for children of all ages with not a lot of safe places to play, this means lack of fresh air for young children.”

She added: "In Belle Vale there is so little for children to do and an important aspect of childhood is to be able to learn to play and interact with each other, especially for those who don't have a garden and when there is no where for them to go safely and be safe, having the multi use play area is the start of what I hope is going to be a great asset to the area.

“I hope that we can also have smaller play areas for the younger children to play and interact together."

The police are set to help residents ensure the MUGA will be a safe haven for families and children in the area.