A POPULAR children's area is in line for a £190,000 upgrade with a host of new equipment.

The equipment is to be put up in between an existing play area at Walton's Bath House Meadow and the site’s car park.

It will be accessible to those with a wide range of disabilities and special needs to ensure that it is fully inclusive.

The project includes a 7.5metre high tower designed to reflect the character of local beach huts, with a slide and a 13 metre long ramp serving another slide and cargo nets.

Other equipment will surround the tower and involves a trampoline, rope end swing, stepping posts, roundabout, sculptural palm tree and seating.

The surfacing will have areas of sand, decking, tarmac and cushionfall.

The existing play equipment on the site is also going to be refurbished and painted with new equipment for toddlers.

Mick Skeels, Tendring Council’s cabinet member for leisure and tourism, said the scheme will be a major improvement to what is currently available at Bath House Meadow.

“Not only is the existing area being upgraded but there is a host of new items being put up which will benefit many youngsters in that area,” he said.

“It will also provide a visual improvement to the site which is public open space.

“I fully back the provision of outdoor recreational facilities which meet the needs of all residents and this will increase activity at this particular popular location. It is also a site that can be accessed by public transport.”

A planning application for the facilities was approved by the council’s planning committee earlier this month.

Work on the project is due to start later this year and will take around three months to complete, weather permitting.

The money is coming from developer’s contributions and from Essex County Council.