Teens escape ‘dangerous’ playpark tower collapse

Teenagers had a ‘scary nearmiss’ in Oban’s new £180,000 playpark, which closed in March due to unsafe flooring, when part of a tower collapsed.

Some are now calling it the town’s ‘white elephant’.

The parent group Friends of Oban Community Playpark had raised £334,000 to replace Atlantis Leisure’s old playpark with two new ones – a big park for ages five to 15, and a smaller one for under-fives.

The big playpark opened in November 2015, but just two years later its surface began to crack and bubble as it ‘sank into a swamp’. Argyll and Bute Council, which maintains the playpark, closed it following a safety inspection in March.

It was hoped that the park could reopen in May, and then July, until the council decided temporary repairs would not be possible.

But the friends group revealed last Friday September 14: ‘Tonight a section of the big tower in the big kids’ playpark collapsed. No-one was hurt as far as we are aware, thankfully.’

Incredulous residents reacted with anger. ‘It’s a good job the park is closed,’ one observed, while another said children and fundraisers had been ‘massively let down’ by ‘failing’ new equipment. ‘There seems to be seriously sub-standard work on the ground surface levelling, site drainage, the protective covering falling apart, and now the structure’s falling to bits,’ one wrote.

Others blamed the council: ‘If the equipment is this dangerous, the park should have a much higher fencing preventing access before someone gets really seriously injured.’ One saw ‘eight to 10 teenagers’ on it over the weekend.

The council has since encircled it with one-metre high railings, but some complained the barriers are not high enough.

Another person asked how the playpark had passed safety regulations. A council spokesperson responded: ‘Our top priority has been safety. The site will now be fenced off entirely until we can guarantee the park is safe to use. We will discuss the next steps with the contractor as a priority, with the aim of reaching a resolution as soon as possible.

‘We once again apologise to the community for the delay and this further setback, and we thank them for their patience and understanding.’

The friends group posted a statement from the tower’s manufacturer Huck, via Wicksteed, saying it would investigate on Wednesday. ‘Huck has taken this issue extremely seriously and will endeavour to fully answer all questions after the investigation and we have more of an idea of what has caused this,’ it said.

‘The plan is to recover the support platform and climbing tunnel and bring them back for further investigation. The equipment conforms to European Safety Standards and all our materials are of the highest quality.

‘The unit is covered by warranty. We will be able to give a more detailed timescale after the inspection.’