UPGRADING play areas around Pontypool would cost more than £40,000, a new report has revealed – as the community council looks to revamp facilities for children.

Town leaders are looking at replacing equipment like swings, slides and roundabouts and laying down safe surfaces for the children.

But estimates showed that revamping the New Inn recreation ground alone would cost nearly £10,000 and the Alexandra Road play park £11,000.

Other improvements could also be introduced at Greys Road play area, Sunnybank Park and other yards in Pontypool, totalling just under £43,000, a report compiled by Pontypool Community Council showed.

Torfaen council, which owns the play areas, has denied they were “rundown”.

Pontypool Community Council is examining the possibility of allocating funds to improve the facilities in the town.

Community council chairwoman Gaynor James said: “So many need doing, but we can only do so many a year. We want to see what play areas need doing and replace the equipment. We’ve got to sort out the money as well.

“It’s not our responsibility, but we would like to do it as we care for the play yards. The cost is phenomenal. If you try to build new ones with new surfaces, it’s mega money.”

Torfaen council provided a breakdown of costs to upgrade the play areas.

A Torfaen council spokesman said: “We have been working with Pontypool Community Council on this.

“They have a budget to enhance play areas and asked us for recommendations, costs, etc. This is not about replacing equipment because it is broken or rundown as such, but improvements and new equipment that would enhance the play areas.

“This specific piece of work has been instigated by the community council, so it is not something we are funding.”