By Staff Reporter

Published at 11:32, Friday, 08 March 2013

A group of mums have been rewarded for their hard work in battling for new play facilities for their children.

Work has started on upgrading the play area in Moor Row in a £84,000 scheme which will take around five weeks to complete.

It is the culmination of more than four years of hard work for Louise Moore, Lesley Sloan and Claire O’Neill.

Louise said: “We are delighted to see the work commence on our community space, this village park will be enjoyed by generations to come.”

Back in 2008 the mums got together to discuss the state of the village park which was in urgent need of refurbishment.

The Moor Row Playground Committee was formed which managed to raise £84,000 with the help of the community, local organisations and good causes.

In December 2010 the committee won the RESPECT police award for effective partnership working. Help and funding has been gained from many sources over the years including Copeland Community Fund, Copeland Council, Neighbourhood Forums (including Copeland), NatWest, Cumbria Waste Management, FCC Environment Ltd (through WREN), Cumbria Constabulary, Phoenix Youth Project, Emmanuel Church and Moor Row Working Men’s Club – to name just a few!

Peter Cox, managing director of WREN, said: “We’re delighted to support The Moor Row Playground Committee granting £50,000 to make this happen.”

Vicki Scott, for NatWest West Cumbria, said: “Louise Moore has been working hard raising funds for the project. We are happy to support this charity in our local community. NatWest Bank have donated £7,250 over the last two years.”

Police Community Support Officer Alan Willison said: “To be able to give something tangible to these groups, gives us a great sense of achievement.”

Copeland Community Fund awarded the project £24,000; Cumbria Waste Management allocated £8,000 and Moor Row Working Men’s Club gave £200.

Copeland council leader Elaine Woodburn said: “This project is a great example of a community, the council, Copeland Community Fund and many others coming together to deliver what will be a fantastic asset.”

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk