WORK to rejuvenate Grays Beach Riverside Park is well under way and has been welcomed by volunteers who keep its cafe running and breathed fresh life into the area when its future was in jeopardy.

The regeneration work, which began when the much-loved but sadly beyond-repair pirates' ship was dismantled last summer. The galleon was one of the largest play ships in Europe when it was installed more than 20 years ago but it has made way for a range of equipment that is now being installed.

And there are lots of other new attractions at the beach and park, paid for by part of the initial £750,000 pumped into the town as part of a multi-million transformation scheme being managed by the Grays Town Fund Board.

Up to £25 million could eventually be made available for improvements to the local infrastructure.

And, as reported last week on Thurrock Nub News, that could even see a new riverside leisure area with a water sports centre and new beach opened up to complement the existing facilities currently being renewed.

Those works include include:

• a new ship and castle
• new Parkour outdoor sports, health and fitness area
• surfacing and path works
• Splashpad area (funded by Thurrock Council)

The new ship and castle play equipment offers plenty of slides and play panels, hideaways, hangouts and six swing seats. A section of the sand area has been removed to make sure the equipment is accessible throughout the year, regardless of weather, to children with disabilities including wheelchair users.

Volunteers at the Lightship Cafe, who stepped up to run the cafe after the council declared it wasn't viable, have welcomed the new play equipment and other upgrades.

Chair of the Lightship, Tina Macklin, said; "The last year has been so tough for so many of us - the cafe has been unable to open for nearly a year.

"During that time - and before then - we have been working behind the scenes to encourage the council to invest in the park and are delighted that the new splash pad is almost ready to open, the new ship and castle in the sandpit is nearly ready and the Parkour outdoor fitness equipment should be in place by Easter.

"We are looking at how we can reopen the cafe, once Covid restrictions have been eased, and hope to open on 12 April serving a limited range of food and drinks from the Exmouth kiosk.

"We have lots of plans for this summer and we look forward to welcoming many residents for an exciting, fun and safe time for all visitors to Grays Beach Park."

Chair of Grays Towns Fund Board and Director of Development at NewRiver REIT, Justin Thomas, said: "The funding provided has enabled the board to kick-start many projects in Grays, developing regeneration opportunities and ensuring that Grays continues to meet the needs of its community. This is only the start of the significant investment plans in the pipeline for Grays."

Thurrock council's cabinet member for environment and sports and leisure, Cllr Aaron Watkins, said: "This significant investment will help transform Grays Beach Riverside Park and enhance it further. The Grays Town Fund Board, as part of the government's new Towns Fund, has provided funding to enable this project alongside our own investment. This is a small step as part of wider regeneration that will transform towns such as Grays.

"The team is hard at work getting the new equipment ready, hopefully for residents to enjoy after the Easter holidays. Thank you to the Grays Town Fund Board and local volunteers for their work."

Other projects funded by Grays Town Fund Board include the installation of a wayfinding scheme that will include information boards and fingerposts providing walking and cycling directions, and new digital display screens in the train and bus station area.