No splash landings just yet as play areas reopen

SPLASH pads in larger parks in Ashbourne, Bakewell and Matlock will remain closed for the time being, despite 32 play areas being reopened across the Derbyshire Dales this week.

The district council’s Clean and Green team has been working hard to prepare the play areas but early usage will be monitored carefully by the local authority to ensure they are being used sensibly and safely.

District council parks and gardens have been open throughout the lockdown, but play areas within the parks have been closed off.

New signage will make it clear that only one adult can accompany each child into a play area and that parents and guardians should carry and use their own anti-bacterial hand sanitiser after touching the play equipment. A district council spokesman said: “Our big message however is that the coronavirus hasn’t gone away and we can only keep these facilities open if users stick to the rules, including respecting the two metre social distancing rule and remembering one metre-plus only applies where two metres isn’t possible.

“Play areas are not a controlled environment, which means the virus could be transmitted via the equipment, so we really do need users to show responsibility and common sense. If this isn’t seen to be happening then we will have to rethink this decision.”

Where play areas have more than one gate, new one-way entry and exit measures will be in place.