WORK on a £175,000 new play-ground in Bold Venture Park, Darwen, has been delayed – because bosses have discovered they can buy more for the same price.

The Friends of Bold Venture Park were told the work on the project was to start on September 1 and be completed by October 15 but concerns were raised when work did not begin on time.

However, Blackburn with Darwen Council has revealed that tenders returned to them were much lower than anticipated, enabling the scheme to be redrafted.

Plans released in April for the Grade II listed park to have play equipment includ-ing a pyramid tower and slide, a fantasy fun run and ‘springies’ have been put on temporary hold.

Coun Michael Law-Riding, executive member for regneration and environ-ment, said: “The council commissioned Capita to undertake a design and tender exercise for the development of the play area at Bold Venture Park.Following extensive consul-tations, during which the Bold Venture Park Friends Group were consulted, a plan for the site was developed.

“After tendering of the work, priced returns have indicated a much lower tendered price than anticipated. This has enabled the council to redraft the scheme proposed to meet available funding and for it to be redesigned, enabling additional items to be included on the site, over what was originally planned. As a result, the work on the site has been delayed to enable redesigns to be completed.

“This redesign process is nearing conclusion which should enable the work to be concluded well before the financial year end.

“The redesigned plan for the site should be available to consultees, including the Friends Group for the end of September.”

Friends group president Harry Duxbury, said: “It will be interesting to see what the new plans are. If this is the case, then it will be all right, but it seems to have taken a long time to get to this stage.

“Any project investing in the park is a good project.”