Plans for playground in girl's memory approved

Ian DuncanLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imageSupplied Arabella smiling at the camera. The image is taken from the top, looking down at the little girl. Her smiling face is in focus, with the rest of the image blurred. She has blonde hair tied back and blue eyes. She is wearing a blue and white blouse and blue blazer.Supplied
Beckstone Primary School is building an adventure playground in memory of Arabella Kelly

Plans to build an adventure playground in memory of a nine-year-old girl who died of cancer have been approved.

Arabella Kelly died of an inoperable brain tumour last April, and her friends and teachers raised almost £40,000 for the play park to be built next to her school in Harrington, Workington.

Cumberland Council approved the development on allotments next to Beckstone Primary School, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A council officer's report acknowledged it would result in the loss of a community asset, namely the allotment, but said demand was low and the benefits would outweigh the "minimal loss".

The playground would feature a colourful design including rainbows and butterflies to remember the outdoor and nature-loving youngster, the application stated.

The school previously said it had hoped to open in time to mark the first anniversary of her death.

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