A new seafront play area in Ilfracombe is now open for children and families to enjoy.

The pirate-themed play area was officially opened on Wednesday, 27 March. Councillor Julie Hunt, in her last engagement as Chair of North Devon Council, was joined by fellow councillors, families and pirates from Pirate De Marisco as she cut the ribbon on the new facility and handed it over for the community to enjoy. 

The play equipment is suitable for children of up to 12 years of age and the equipment has been designed to be inclusive of a range of physical and mental needs for children.

The statement pirate ship reflects the town's coastal location and was selected to be in keeping with the seafront's Victorian heritage. The play area will also be complemented with some new planters and benches.

The £87,000 play area has been fully funded by Section 106 open space funds. It is the first project delivered of the Ilfracombe Seafront Masterplan, a series of improvements to public facilities and open space in the area. The project will be added to with new public toilets and a bus shelter east of the Victorian Pleasure Grounds later this year.

Work on the ship started in February and was completed by Pennine Playgrounds Ltd. 

Leader of North Devon Council, Councillor Ian Roome, says: "We have a shared vision for Ilfracombe to improve the public realm. We are delighted to be able to deliver this fantastic new play area which can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike and see the town benefitting from significant S106 funding.

"It is wonderful to have a stimulating space for young people to enjoy in the heart of the town, and even better to see the smiling faces of children already enjoying the equipment. I have no doubt it will become a much-loved space for families in our community."

Under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, contributions can be sought from developers towards the costs of providing extra community and social infrastructure as a result of the impact of new development in the area. These contributions can only be used for certain things, and are used primarily for public open space projects.