A CAMPAIGN to provide facilities for disabled people to use a play area has been given a funding boost from an Olympic 2012 legacy fund.

Bridport Young Persons Action Trust (BYPAT) is aiming to double the size of West Bay Play Area, and has received a £10,000 grant from the 'Inspired by 2012 (Olympics) Health and Wellbeing Legacy Fund'.

The donation, handed over by Dorset County Council, follows on from another county council contribution of £50,000 - from the Short Breaks Capital Budget, for children who are disabled.

Chairman of BYPAT, Arthur Woodgate, said: "It was a good bid to the legacy fund, but it was one of 75 they received.

"The requests totalled mover than £1m. They had £200,000 at their disposal.

"All we could do was keep our fingers crossed and hope, so you can image how we felt when we received their letter saying 'your project fully met the criteria and priorities and the panel have no doubt that it will have an incredibly positive impact on health outcomes for those involved'.”

Regular consultation sessions have taken place with the Mountjoy School Council, the Sir John Colfox School, the Flood Lane and Fishermans Arms day centres, and with parents of children with disabilities.

These sessions confirmed to BYPAT the need for an inclusive community facility, which does not exist anywhere nearby, that would enable people with disabilities to exercise and enjoy themselves in a safe and specially designed environment that many of them will have helped create.

Chris Skinner, Dorset County Council’s sports development officer, presented the cheque for £10,000 last week to the steering group, which included participation group members from the Fisherman’s Arms Day Centre and Mountjoy School.

Bridport Town Council, working in partnership with the BYPAT charity, has contributed £10,000 towards the project, with town surveyor Daryl Chambers and a number of councillors all serving on the steering group.

Other funding has been contributed by West Dorset District Council, the Bridport Round Table, Bridport Lions Club, Bridport charities and BYPAT, with donations from local businesses and sponsorship raised by workers at Agincare.

Members of the steering group have scheduled work on the development to start in March to be ready in Spring, weather permitting.