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Leading Leeds developers Sterling Capitol and national hotel group Village Hotels have donated £50,000 to transform the Hesketh Lane playground in Morley into a safe and modern facility for the local community.

Hesketh Lane playground The money will enable the run-down playground, which is situated in Hesketh Lane, Dewsbury Road, Tingley, to be completely redeveloped. Work on the playground started this week.

The playground itself has been located to a more central part of the recreational ground in order to reduce the impact on those living close by and to improve access.

Local residents have been working closely with their councillors to safeguard the park and improve the facilities for everyone. Brand-new facilities include swings, a see saw, a roundabout, a multi-games unit, seating, safer surfacing and dog proof fencing.

Overall, the new playground will cost £140,000, with £90,000 coming from the Big Lottery Fund.

Martin Croxen, the chief executive of Sterling Capitol, commented: “As the developers of Capitol Park in Morley, we have always been looking at ways in which we can support the local community. We have already provided new changing rooms and sports facilities at Glen Road and we are very happy to help the playground in Hesketh Lane.

“We are delighted that the Village Hotel South Leeds, which has moved on to Capitol Park, are supporting us in this very worthwhile project. We are both proud to be in Morley and are committed to providing first-class recreational facilities where we can,” he added. “This is an ideal opportunity to create a positive focal point for young people.”

Gary Davis, Village CEO commented: "We want to ensure that our new hotel becomes a major part of the community so it’s fantastic that we have been able to contribute to this local play facility in Morley too. The hotel is sure to be a huge hit with local people and businesses and we really hope that we will bring something different for everyone to enjoy throughout the surrounding areas of South Leeds.”

Coun Robert Finnegan, of the Morley Independents, commented: “The Hesketh Lane playground was in a terrible state, unsafe and neglected, so this is excellent news. The local community are extremely grateful for the tremendous generosity of Sterling Capitol and Village Hotels, which has enabled the playground to be completely renovated. Without their help, I do not know what would have become of such an important local facility.”

Capitol Park, which is situated in Tingley by Junction 28 of the M62, has been a major success. Work has been completed on a new speculative 13,500 sq ft office building, which is situated at the front of Capitol Park West by the A650 Bradford-Wakefield road. The building is next to a superb new 115 bedroom Village Hotel and Leisure Club.

The new hotel has created up to 150 full and part time jobs providing state-of-the-art leisure facilities, Starbucks coffee house, Victory Pub and Kitchen, Verve Restaurant and the HUB meeting and events centre. It opened on September 15.

Mr Croxen said: “The facilities at the Village Hotel will add a new dimension to Capitol Park and make it even more attractive than it already is.

He added: “Sterling Capitol are extremely proud of what we have achieved here. Job creation is at the heart of our plans at Capitol Park and there are already more than 1,200 people already employed on site at companies as diverse as Carcraft, PetCare, dePuy, Real Radio, the NHS and the Henderson Insurance Group.”