Content

Over £5 million of Future High
Streets Fund capital has been made available for regeneration work
in Maryport, leading to a range of significant enhancement schemes
to be managed by Cumberland Council.
The sum of approximately £150
– 200,000 has been allocated to the construction of a
children’s interactive water feature or ‘splash
park’ within the curtilage of the Shiver Me Timbers adventure
play area, located on Bridge Street.
The splash park will be managed and
maintained by Maryport Town Council and the Lake District Coast
Aquarium.
Shiver Me Timbers is in a prime
position for visitors to the town, together with being locally well
known, and receives heavy usage. The splash park will be a seasonal
facility (approximately April – October) adding increased
play value and visitor attraction to the site. Splash parks are
completely accessible to children of all ages and abilities,
providing equal opportunities for play, encouraging social
development, and increasing physical activity.
The first step in providing the new
splash park is to tender the project to suitably qualified and
experienced suppliers via The Chest portal, ensuring open
advertising of the opportunity.
A detailed site assessment will be
included within the tender, including details of essential
utilities networks (mains electricity, fresh water and foul water) the views of Maryport Town
Council and the Lake District Coast Aquarium will also be
essential, as they will be responsible for ongoing running
costs.
The tender will be for a
‘design and build’ solution to be provided by
suppliers, creating a new splash park which blends into the broader
play area site when operational, but does not impede users during
the closed season.
The tender process will lead to
sufficient project and materials information being available to
apply for full planning permission.
The decision to proceed with
advertising the tender opportunity on The Chest is therefore
necessary at this stage to progress this project, working with a
target to complete site works prior to visitor numbers increasing
in spring 2024.

 

Reasons for the decision

To proactively utilise Maryport Future High
Streets Fund monies to provide a new facility which compliments
existing play provision, which is also receiving substantial
investment.
 

Alternative options considered

No action – the funding would be used on
other projects around the town, Shiver Me Timbers play area would
undergo complete replacement and upgrades as a standard, large,
play facility.