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Matta is the perfect choice for Lewes District Council
Jul 06, 2015
The main aim of the Big Parks Project was to provide a safe play area that would last well into the future. Lewes District Council chose to install Safety Matta due to its attractive design, durability and the little maintenance required.
Background
The district of Lewes is located in East Sussex, England and has a population of approximately 97,600. Lewes District Council serves a number of nearby villages, towns and parishes, including Kingston, Newhaven, Seaford and Peacehaven.
The Big Parks Project is a project led by Lewes District Council to provide new recreational opportunities and improved sports facilities for residents. The £2.1m community-led project incorporated 30 acres of land and includes a café, new cycle paths, orchard, skatepark, sports facilities, artwork and new toddler and adventure playgrounds.
The playgrounds are one of the main features of the park and have become a destination attraction, bringing people in from all parts of the surrounding area.

The Problem
During the design of the playgrounds, Lewes District Council had to consider the safety surfacing options and needed to factor in the natural look of the playgrounds and the anticipated heavy usage. The aim was to provide a safe surface that would last well into the future with little or no maintenance requirements.
The Solution
Lewes District Council went straight to Matta Products, for the grass matting safety surfacing, as years of experience had proved this to be the best solution for the park. During the build, the site conditions caused the design for a bark path to be changed,as the proposed area was lying wet. Pathway Matta was chosen as a more appropriate option as it sits firmly on the surface and has an anti-slip finish to prevent accidents occurring.
Pathway Matta was fitted by Matta Product’s professional, friendly team underneath the newly installed climbing wall and toddler unit. For all other recreational areas, Lewes District Council opted for Safety Matta, a grass mat style surface. The mats were chosen as they enable grass to grow through, creating a greener, more aesthetically pleasing area.
The Benefits
Christopher Bibb, Project Manager for the Big Parks Project, said: “Lewes District Council has been using Matta Products as our preferred grass mat safety surface for a number of years. It is the market leader and offers the best long term safety solution.
"The initial investment quickly pays for itself with the surety that it has been laid professionally and will remain a functional safety surface with little or no maintenance well into the future.”

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