THE next stage in the development of a play area in Leftwich should be completed in the next three weeks, with the final plans available for public viewing soon after that.

The proposals had to be revised after consultation with parents and children at a meeting last month, but now the modifications have been made the project can forge ahead.

The main stumbling block has been the paddling pool that already exists at the site.

Some people requested that the paddling pool should stay so the developers decided to ask the children what they wanted.

Vale Royal borough councillor John Grimshaw said: "The response from the children was an overwhelming majority to see a play area without a paddling pool. Only a couple of people wanted the pool to stay.

"All our efforts are targeted at the children because it is for them. There will be a new play area."

Developers were despondent following a poor turn-out at the meeting last month but they hope that now the plans have been finalised there will be an upturn in public interest.

Plans for the site include the creation of three separate and distinct play areas to accommodate the differing play and development needs of toddlers, juniors and teenagers.

Clr Grimshaw said: "The children have been extremely enthusiastic from the beginning and we hope that will now start to rub off on their parents. Hopefully we will have some kind of a display arranged in the next few weeks to show people exactly what is going to be built."