MUM Debbie Beckett wants to set up a soft children’s play area in Highbridge – the first for the area.

Debbie, who lives in Burnham-on-Sea, has plans to open CrazyDayz Active Play Centre after seeing a gap in the market.

“I’ve lived in Burnham-on-Sea for a number of years and I know there are not a lot of facilities for people with children,” Debbie said.

“When I had my own children, there was nowhere I could take them.

“There is a play centre in Brean which has recently opened but there is nowhere in Burnham and Highbridge that has a soft children’s play area, so I thought I would open one.

“It has been an idea that has been kicking around in my head for years but I haven’t had the money or time to do it until now.”

Debbie said the new soft play centre in Brue Way, Highbridge, will have climbing walls, slides, tunnels, soft play building blocks and will be kitted out with a sensory area which will have bubble tanks, lights, and textures to help children with special needs.

It will also have an area for the under five’s and a cafe which will serve healthy meals for children and their parents.

“I have had such positive feedback to my idea from mums in the area. They all say the centre would be really useful and a place they could bring their children to,” Debbie said.

“I am doing all of this off my own back, borrowing money to get it started – it’s something I have always wanted to do and now I am finally doing it.

“I plan to employee five staff who will help provide cover during holidays and term times as well as a chef to run the cafe.”

The determined mum is currently in talks to rent a unit on Brue Way and said she is feeling positive for the future.

She said: “The whole project will cost me around £70,000 and I am hoping to have the centre open by around April or May.

“I really hope it will be a success, a lot of people have said they are really excited for this to come to the community and I want to see it grow.

“I am expecting to hear back from the landlord of the unit in January so hopefully we can start to get things started soon.”