Councillors will be asked to approve works to improve a play area at a local primary school.
Concerns have been raised over the play area at Blackhall Primary School, where large areas of the grass surface have stopped growing, leaving sizeable bare patches.
A council report says the school is “strategically important” for flood risk, adding some importance to the way the issue is to be addressed.
Officers have proposed that equipment and other amenities be spread out across the footprint of the play area, largely on existing grass.
They say that this would avoid causing excessive wear in one place, in the hope of preventing damage to the grounds that currently happens.
The plan would allow for a reduction in flood risk related to the site.
A report which will be considered by councillors at next week’s Education Committee meeting, officers say efforts to design the works would begin if councillors sign off the project.
Plans include a small synthetic surface play area, benches, play equipment, sand and quiet and sensory spaces.
The work could cost an estimated£150,000, although this could change based on the final design selected.
Scottish Water had expressed interest in the next steps taken with the site, and that it may be willing to help with funding.
Officers state: “This is not a cheap option but one that provides an opportunity to provide an outdoor space that offers something for everyone and offers greater play and learning value.
“It may also offer a more environmentally friendly solution with greater scope to balance the need for durability with the need to address the climate and nature emergency.”
They added that a short-term solution, while design works were underway, could be to install new turf on the site.
Officers also explored other options, including the re-turfing of the play area alongside installation of new drainage systems.
The report stated that this may work, but only for a short period, with re-turfings needed afterwards on a regular basis.
Additionally, they researched the installation of a “synthetic carpet” of sand, or a multi-use games area with a rectangular pitch.
They wrote that both concepts were not in line with the council’s policy on design of school grounds, and would not contribute to addressing climate issues.
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter
