Mallaig play area equipment renewal agreed

Members of The Highland Council’s Lochaber Area Committee yesterday (11 August 2025) agreed to approve £20,000 for a renewal of equipment project at the play area beside Mallaig High School.

Lochaber Committee Chair, Cllr Kate Willis said: “Playparks have positive social and mental health benefits for children and young people. We have 33 play areas across Lochaber for people to access. The five-year improvement strategy has enabled the Council to improve many of the play areas, and we continue to strive to improve provision to ensure all are safe, inclusive in design and in use, and for play areas to be environmentally and financially sustainable going forward.”

The Scottish Government play parks renewal programme from 2021-2026 for the Lochaber Area is £494,674, which has been split equally between the two Wards £247,337 per Ward over the five-year programme. Ward 11 now has £23,211 remaining and will be retained for contingency and once all Ward 11 projects are completed a final recommendation can be proposed by Officers for consideration and agreement by Members.

The Council’s Play Park Strategy recognises the value of informal spaces for play, as well as Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that children have the right to relax and play and participate in a wide range of cultural, artistic and cultural activities.

Members will be updated with timescales on delivery and installation.