Waterfront needs family equipment.

A LACK of children's play facilities at Ipswich's waterfront development is to be one of the main priorities of a working party which has been set up to look at community issues in the area.

A LACK of children's play facilities at Ipswich's waterfront development is to be one of the main priorities of a working party which has been set up to look at community issues in the area.

Although churches provide activities for children, the borough council has not identified any space in the regeneration project where youngsters can play.

A workshop for stakeholders and council officials under the heading “building a community on Ipswich's waterfront” identified the lack of a playground as one of the barriers preventing a successful neighbourhood from being built.

Council leader Liz Harsant said more children than had been forecast were living in the new flats in the Wet Dock area. These included families of employees from India who were working for BT at Martlesham and also an influx of migrant workers from Poland.

“A proper play facility for children have been identified as a priority by the workshop, and it is something that I am keen to see created,” said Mrs Harsant.

“The next phase of the waterfront development is now taking shape, and my aim is to ensure that community facilities you expect to find in other parts of the borough will be provided for these new residents.”

As a first step, a community day is being organised on September 19 at Regatta Day at which it is hoped people living in the area will come together for a programme of activities,