Dear Editor,

I’ve just read your Editor’s column in the Ross Gazette, September 21st and as you may know the Tudorville and District Community Centre have managed the Tudorville play area for four years now.

It has been some time since we installed new equipment at the park as our focus has been on improving the building over the past few years but now that this is finished we are keen to raise more funds to add new equipment such as a zip wire and roundabout.

However, as I’m sure many other local groups have found there are not as many grant funders who are willing to provide grants for such projects as there were five or 10 years ago. Where funders are willing to provide grants these are typically for amounts less than £10,000 and something like a zip wire costs more than this alone with installation and safety flooring.

Therefore it can be difficult and time consuming to apply to lots of different potential funders to secure all the funds for such improvements. However, we will keep trying as with the outdoor gym recently installed at Tudorville and the availability of the car park then it would be great to make the Tudorville play area a real destination play area in Ross.

It is also potentially easier for us to obtain grants as a registered charity which has a proven track record than perhaps a Council or new group.

If any local businesses or individuals would like to support fundraising for new equipment at Tudorville or have any ideas for new equipment then they are of course welcome to contact me on 01989 563464.

Michelle Kings

Ross-on-Wye