MORE than £100k is being forked out to fund a new soft play in Boscombe.

BCP Council’s new ‘specialist' facility is earmarked to go at Kings Park Learning and Leisure Centre (KPLLC) - the former Bournemouth Indoor Bowls Centre.

A £110,000 contract has been advertised for the supply and installation of the soft play equipment, funded by the government's Towns Fund initiative.

Just last week, BCP Council turned to residents to ask them to make donations of £2, £5 or £10 to fund leisure, community and cultural activities throughout the year.

The local authority said its decision to direct the Towns Fund at the new soft play facility was based on community feedback.

Cllr Richard Herrett, portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations at BCP Council, said: “This project is funded externally by the UK Government's Towns Fund initiative. It will bring a specialist, state-of-the-art interactive play facility to Kings Park Learning and Leisure Centre (KPLLC) in Boscombe.

“Chosen as result of feedback from the local community and the identified need for enhanced skills and learning support in the area, the project has been developed with the assistance of BCP Council’s Children’s Services team and Parks in Mind.

“The facility will also help to generate ringfenced income, which the Council will reinvest in further developing KPLLC for the ongoing benefit of residents and the local Boscombe community in future."

BCP Council has been re-purposing the former bowls centre into a leisure centre for residents.

Cllr Herrett explained the ground floor will offer an 'active sports play' for children, designed to be fully accessible and offer specialised sensory play experiences.

This will help improve the learning, health, and wellbeing of children with special educational needs, or those who may be vulnerable, he said.

According to the contract advertised on Gov.Uk on behalf of BCP Council, the contract is expected to begin in September of this year, and last for three months.

The contract description reads: “BCP Council are repurposing the former Bournemouth Indoor Bowls Centre into a multi-use sports hall that will include a soft play area.

“A supplier is required to provide the supply and installation of a new soft play at Kings Park.

“The centre is situated within Kings Park, Boscombe near Bournemouth town centre. The design for the new soft play structure should complement and consider the current café and bar area on site.

"The Kings Park Leisure and Learning Centre is a community hub, and will be a destination for families to socialise, get active and have fun.”