ATTEMPTS to install a controversial new play area at a coastal location in the New Forest could take a step forward next week - with potential for a timely financial boost.

Plans have been put together for the expanded children’s facility next to the Needles Eye Café in Milford-on-Sea.

Members of New Forest District Council’s cabinet will meet on Wednesday to discuss whether to grant a lease for the land to the village’s parish council to allow the authority to pursue its vision for the site.

Following a number of meetings, two public consultations, two petitions and

negotiations between the parish and district council, it is being recommended that the sections of land requested be leased for 99

years.

In addition, it is also put forward that the play area project receive £66,034 from developer contributions to go towards the overall scheme.

In a report to cabinet members, Cllr Michael Harris portfolio holder for local economic development, property and innovation, says: “It is a project which has evolved from within the community of Milford-on-Sea, led by the parish council.

“After wide consultation the resultant community scheme, appropriately amended to take account of many submissions, will be enjoyed by young children and accompanying adults for many generations to come.

“This is also being achieved without any cost to the resident of Milford-on-Sea or indeed to the residents of the entire New Forest.”

Milford-on-Sea Parish Council first approached New Forest District Council (NFDC) in 2016 with hopes to enhance the play facilities in the village.

Following discussions on the initial proposals, which included a skateboard park and large zip wire apparatus, the development was scaled down.

Both the skateboard park and zip wire features have been removed and less land is required than first sought.

In April 2017, a parish council consultation indicated 73 per cent of the 280 responses were in favour of the scheme.

However, just three months later a petition with 717 signatures opposing a development on the seafront was submitted to NFDC. In response, a second petition with 1,270 signatures in favour of the scheme was filed to the district authority.

Following further discussions between officials from the parish and district councils, a second consultation on revised plans was carried out last November, which returned results overwhelmingly in favour of delivering additional play facilities and in the location suggested.