Bulwarks play area in Sandwich is set for its final refurbishment after tidal surge
00:00, 24 April 2015
updated: 10:11, 24 April 2015
A much-loved park in Sandwich is set for its final refurbishment after it was flooded in the biggest tidal surge of 60 years.
Work is set to start next week at Bulwarks Play Area which became submerged in water during the flooding in 2013, leaving some of its equipment irreparable.
Its refurbishment has been a joint project between pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, Sandwich Rotary Club and Dover District Council.
The park will be closed next week from Monday, April 27 until Monday, May 4, while work is ongoing.
Laura Fidler, Sandwich town clerk, said: “This play area is important to the town’s children and families and it is great that Pfizer’s volunteers have worked so hard with local councils and Sandwich Rotary Club to restore the facility and make it even better.
“Sandwich Town Council is pleased to continue its support for the ongoing maintenance of the Bulwarks play area, and as the trustee of Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund the council was glad to be able to fund initial repairs after the 2013 floods, paving the way for the excellent work done by DDC and Pfizer to improve the play area.”
The toll bridge fund gave £3,000 for initial repairs so the park could reopen and the main refurbishment started in July last year which is now almost complete.
A new spring rocker and games panel will be installed which have been purchased by DDC.
Resurfacing works will also take place next week to make the ground safer.
A spokesman for DDC said: “This latest investment follows a range of renovations at the Bulwarks play area. This includes repairs funded by Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund to reopen the play area last May following flooding damage.
“Follow up refurbishment works were completed in July, when teams of volunteers from Pfizer’s Sandwich site repainted a range of equipment, including the swings, slide and roundabout.
“In October, additional improvements were carried out by another group of Pfizer employees, including realigning and painting the fencing around the perimeter of the play area, and repainting the seats and the wooden multi-play unit.”
