Concerns raised over safety of children's play area in Lincolnshire town
CONCERNS about the safety of children using a Wainfleet All Saints play area have been raised by a local resident.
Ken Shelton, whose young grandson regularly uses the Magdalen Green, said he first raised issues with a town councillor around 18 months ago and believes the site is dangerous.
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POTENTIAL DANGER: Several wooden planks on this chain bridge at the Magdalen Green play area have fallen down.
He says that the council hasn’t invested in repairs to the popular park and a child could be injured.
Mr Shelton said: “It’s in a bad state of repair and needs sorting out.
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“The grass hadn’t been cut for a long time although it has been done now. There is a bridge kids walk across on chains with loose planks that haven’t been repaired.
“There is a skirting which contained chippings but the chippings have gone and the skirting is left sticking up.
“The swings have not been replaced and have been taken down. There is a maze which is only three foot high and there’s lots of sticks broken and pieces of wood sticking up – if a child falls over they will cut their knees.
“They want to do a skateboard park there but if they are going to do the same as they have done with this it will be a problem. My grandson likes to go there virtually everyday, I pick him up from school and he goes on there and plays but it’s very dangerous.”
Other safety concerns include missing safety surface tiles and loose matting which would have been covered by bark chippings but are now a trip hazard.
Wainfleet All Saints Mayor, Cllr Bruce Crisp said: “In recent years, we have had a ROSPA safety check done. This was acted upon and repairs were made to some of the equipment and the swings were removed because they were considered dangerous.
“Three tonnes of safety bark was laid, however, this has been stolen. ELDC were supposed to be litter picking the green, but have not done so since our town cleaner retired.
“We now waiting for a report from SNP, a specialist play equipment company as to what maintenance needs to be done and the cost involved.”
Comments
by SS29252
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 12:45PM
“The Council has a duty to maintain these play areas. If they've been warned of hazards then they leave themselves wide open to claims if someone is injured. Yes, 'health and safety' might be a modern inconvenience, but the memories of idyllic past childhoods forget the horrendous injuries that can happen, if only rarely. And yes, it costs money.”
by Tom_Whimpole
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 4:45PM
“Obviously it's too much for the town, district and county councils to actually maintain a play area for children. Too many levels of beaurocracy and not even people sorting out services.
Get the kids playing outside instead of vegetating in front of video games.”
by Marshwarbler
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 1:48PM
“What a load of cr%p. Stop spending money on it, let it all grow wild, call it an adventure playground and the kids will love it! In the forties and fifties we didn't have health and safety - we just had a great childhood.”
by rascall1
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 11:46AM
“Certo good point. And if the mayor knows in his mind it is unsafehe or she as with anyone has a duty of care to close it untill someone puts their name on a piece of paper to say it is safe. Close it. I did it once at a school. They listened they were letting 6 yr olds play on same sort of thing on wet weather without correct shoes or othrr safety wear or even correct supervision. Just put your intentions in writing thats all.”
by certa_cito
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 9:39AM
“If it is that dangerous why let the grandson go on it?”
by screenman
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 8:27AM
“They must have been barking mad to nick that stuff, come on that is just a list of very poor excuses.”