AN ART auction is taking place this month to raise money for the replacement of Machynlleth’s only playground, which has been labelled “not fit for purpose”.

Money raised at the Silent Charity Art Auction on Saturday, 30 July, will go towards Future Play Machynlleth, a group of local people who are fund-raising to allow the development of a new playground for the children of the town.

Future Play secretary Danielle Armstrong’s seven-year-old son William suffers with a rare syndrome which limits his ability to walk unaided, and she said the current playground at Y Plas is “not practical” for all children.

Mrs Armstrong told the Cambrian News: “We are a group of local people who have come together to raise funds to replace the existing playground in Machynlleth with a playground which is fully accessible to all children of all abilities.

“The playground needs modernising now and we are hoping that children with reduced mobility and visibility will be able to use it safely.

“It is not dangerous, but a lot more needs to be done because it is not exactly fit for purpose — there is paint coming off and it is not practical for all children.

“My son doesn’t walk without help, and because the soft floor is bumpy and is coming up in places, he can’t walk along that without tripping. To have the opportunity to play alongside their peers is what all children need and deserve and we would like to ensure that any child who visits the Machynlleth playground can experience this, regardless of ability.”

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