Cromer’s seafront taken over by swashbuckling pirates at new playground opening

Children enjoy the new Shipwreck play area at Cromer. (Image: David Hubba Roberts.)

Built at the town's West Promenade, it was officially opened by members of North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) on Friday, June 2.

Mother-of-two, Alex Triplow, of Erpingham, brought her son Thomas along.

'He was so excited to come down - he went to bed in a pirate costume,' she said. 'It's just something else do to down here. It's especially good as it's an incentive for the kids to come off the beach when it's time to leave.'

Teddie Drabuell, five, was on holiday with family from Peterborough. He said: 'My favourite bit was ringing the bell, I like being noisy.'

Chloe, nine, added: 'I really like it because I can be as loud as I want and nobody will tell me off.'

New toilet and shower facilities were also revealed at the opening. NNDC hoped by improving the facilities on the West Promenade it would prompt more businesses to grow along the sea front.

Judy Oliver, assets portfolio holder for NNDC, said: 'We'd like to see the Art Deco building at the end of the walkway converted into a concession for food and drink to bring more businesses in.

'What's really good about the toilet facilities down here is that if we get a flood warning, the toilets are build in blocks which can be dismantled and lifted to safety by crane in six hours. That means that if a flood like we had in 2013 happens again, we can keep them safe and also get them working again sooner, as we won't have to rebuild them.'

Steve Blatch, corporate director and head of paid services at NNDC, said: 'We've been planning this for more than a year now, but it only took about six weeks to go up.

'We really want to make the facilities here some of the best in the country, to go with our blue flag rating for this beach.'

- What do you think of the new playground? Send your letter into North Norfolk News, 31 Church Street, Cromer, NR27 9ES or email NNN.Letters@archant.co.uk.