Plans for an ambitious project at a popular park in Tenby are progressing well, the town council reported this week.

A preliminary meeting of the 'Friends of Tenby Jubilee Play Park' took place last week, with the group discussing the current position of the facility and its future.

Tenby Town Council has agreed to set aside £20,000 towards a new play park at The Jubilee, which overlooks the South Beach, which will incorporate a wheeled park play area (skate park) and play equipment for seven to 11-yea- olds.

The removal of play equipment from part of the Jubilee Play Area was forced upon Pembrokeshire County Council officers recently, due to health and safety issues, after an inspection was carried out on the equipment, which was said to have come to the end of its life.

Pembrokeshire County Council's community regeneration manager, Sinead Henehan, who had met with members of the town council recently said: "It is indeed very disappointing news for the community that the play equipment has been removed, however I am pleased to see the positive approach that Tenby Town Council are taking for the community."

The cost of the new project is £85,000 and with the town council pledging £20,000, they will apply to the county council for a further £20,000.

If this is granted, there will be a further £45,000 to raise, and it is hoped that these funds can be raised by the end of January, for the project to commence early in spring 2012.

The county council has given a verbal undertaking to lease the whole area to the town council for future maintenance.

A tender process has also taken place following a consultation period and Urban Recreation of Newport, Gwent, has been awarded the contract for the work.

The aim is to officially open the play park on the anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee on June 5, next year.

The following actions were agreed at the meeting of 'Friends of Tenby Jubilee Play Park' - plans for the play park are to be displayed in local schools, Tenby Youth Club and the press; Jerry Widdan, of Urban Recreation, is to visit schools and the Youth Club, to explain the development and seek the views of those who will use the park to make sure that what is planned is what they want; Tenby Town Council are to seek permission from head teachers for a visit to the schools; the town council are to apply to Pembrokeshire County Council for the lease of the land, seek any necessary planning approval and grant funding of a further £20,000 towards the project; the town council are to write to local clubs and organisations and local businesses seeking funding support for the project; the town council to set up the group as a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) to maximise funding opportunities.

The inaugural meeting of the group will take place on Friday, November 4, at 2.30 pm, at the De Valence Pavilion, Upper Frog Street, to agree a constitution and elect officers and to discuss and agree future fundraising activities.

At Tuesday night's meeting of the town council, the town clerk informed members that MP Simon Hart and AM Angela Burns had both said that they were fully supportive of the project and that the Rotary Club of Tenby had also written to the town council to offer their assistance in raising funds.

Anyone with any ideas or support for the group is welcome to go along to the meeting on November 4, or to write to the town clerk at the De Valence Pavilion, Tenby.