A NEW surface for a multi-games area in Buntingford will cost more than £100,000. Buntingford and District Sports Association is seeking the money to lay a new polymeric surface at the Norfolk Road play area. It is hoping to raise the cash through grants

A NEW surface for a multi-games area in Buntingford will cost more than £100,000.

Buntingford and District Sports Association is seeking the money to lay a new polymeric surface at the Norfolk Road play area.

It is hoping to raise the cash through grants from East Herts District Council and Buntingford Town Council, but, after receiving an estimate for the surface, the town council says it is going to be a lengthy process.

Town clerk Jill Jones said: "Our first estimate was in excess of £100,000. The town council doesn't have enough money to completely fund the project, so this financial year we have contributed another £20,000 towards the surface like we did last year and we will continue to put an additional £20,000 into the pot for subsequent years.

"We will apply for grants, but the main problem is we are applying to refurbish something that's already there and not putting in something new, so it cuts down the amount of places we can go for grants."

She said the town council believed it could get back 25 per cent of costs in grants, but would then still be looking to raise about £75,000.

"We are intending to get more estimates," she said.

"It's a huge expenditure for the town council, but we are saving up even though we have already spent a lot of money on the existing surface by patching it up.