Folkestone families are being handed the chance to design the next wave of play area upgrades as Folkestone & Hythe District Council opens a public consultation on Cheriton Road Recreation Ground and East Cliff. The council has set aside £670,000 to refresh equipment, surfacing and seating across the district, with residents able to submit their ideas via a ten-question survey until 4pm on Tuesday 4 August.
Cllr Connor McConville, Cabinet Member for Assets, said: “We know how important play areas are for children, families and local communities. These improvements will help us create safe, more inclusive and more enjoyable places to play across the district.” The funding pot draws partly from the council’s own capital budget and partly from developer contributions, and the proposed works could include modern equipment for a wider age range, better paths, fencing, and features supporting inclusive and sensory play. Beyond Folkestone, three Lydd sites at Lade Fort, Queensway and The Derings will be upgraded along with the Seabrook play area.
The consultation arrives just weeks after the July opening of the south-east’s largest free adventure playground at Lower Leas Coastal Park, a £750,000 refurbishment that saw more than 1,100 people submit design ideas in late 2024 and early 2025. Much of that feedback shaped a final layout by contractor Proludic, whose design included sustainable materials and the highest standards of inclusive access after cliff stabilisation work near The Vinery cleared the way for construction. Looking ahead, another new play area is also in the pipeline for Bouverie Square, the former bus station site, as part of the government-funded ‘A Brighter Future’ town development.
The current programme flows from the council’s Play Area Strategy 2021, which identified nine Priority Play Areas and set a target that most residents should live within a 15-minute walk of quality provision. Paper copies of the survey are available by emailing [email protected], and the council is working with town and parish councils to transfer some strategically important sites to local control.
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