A PLAYGROUND on Oxford’s largest estate could be in for long overdue makeover if it lands thousands of pounds of Lottery cash.

Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground, known as Blap, has applied to Community Spaces, part of the Big Lottery Fund, for money from its £50m grants programme.

The scheme helps community groups improve green and open spaces across England.

Blap managers want £70,000 to replace crumbling play equipment and transform facilities for children on the estate.

But as part of the application process, the community must be consulted on what facilities it wants the most — and responses are needed before the end of the month. If the scheme is approved in the new year, building work could begin by March.

The playground, which opened in 1976, provides daily activities for 40-80 children aged five to 16 at its after-school clubs, and runs holiday play schemes.

But some equipment, including a 20-year-old climbing frame in the shape of a blackbird, has been vandalised and sealed off.

Project co-ordinator Alston Quammie said: “We have got the landmark blackbird, but that has been out of bounds for a year because it has been vandalised. We are looking to replace it with some type of play tower.

“We also want to replace another wooden structure with some kind of activity trail.”

Mr Quammie hopes to replace the fence around the outdoor equipment with a taller fence to stop vandals getting in.

In 2007, Blap lost a public vote to win £79,000 of money from The People’s Millions Big Lottery Fund, and was in danger of closing before it secured different funding.

Mr Quammie said: “We want to bring in safety impact surfaces around some of the frames to make it safer. I hope they take into account the impact this money would have on the community.

“We are trying to make it more secure, and the children will benefit from new structures. The children’s grandparents used the same equipment and it would be nice to give the children new equipment.”

Community Spaces programme co-ordinator Samantha Cox said Blap’s first stage application process had been approved and it had until January 25 to submit its final bid.

Send your ideas for the playground to Project Leader, Blap, c/o Leys Linx Centre, Blackbird Leys Youth and Community Centre, Blackbird Leys Road, or email blackbirdleys.adventure@ yahoo.co.uk