ANGER AS PLAYGROUND REMAINS SHUT
Council says it’s due to insurance
PARENTS are furious at still not being able take their children to a play areas – because of ‘insurance issues’.
The latest relaxation of Government lockdown rules mean many playgrounds have now reopened across England.
But the play area near Baldwins Gate Village Hall remains chained shut, and the playground within the nearby Meadow Bank estate is also out of bounds.
Mum-of-three Lisa Gillis says her two five-year-old daughters cannot understand why the play areas are out of action.
She said: “Our local parish council has closed off one of the playgrounds and not given us a satisfactory reason other than it’s an insurance issue. They should not be putting huge chains and padlocks on parks for young children.
“Parks are open everywhere else and we have to drive about 30 minutes or five or six miles to Madeley or Newcastle.
“Whenever my girls walk past our local one they want to play on it and they don’t understand what’s going on.
“It’ll be the school holidays soon and they’ll want to play on it then. We’re responsible enough to keep our children safe.”
Whitmore Parish Council has made its decision based on the latest Government advice and information from its insurers.
A council spokesman said:
“We very much appreciate how frustrating it must be not being able to access the exercise and play equipment.
“Having sought the advice of our insurers, we have very reluctantly decided that, as we cannot guarantee the safety of users, the equipment must remain closed until further notice.
“We were particularly mindful of our insurer’s advice that relying on signs does not absolve the council of its legal duty to provide a safe play area at all times.
“With this in mind we have decided to keep the situation under regular review. The next formal assessment will be made at our parish council meeting on August 5. Until that time, we would remind everyone that the play and exercise equipment remains closed.
“We have taken steps to stop access to the equipment but we are aware that, in a number of instances, the tape isolating the equipment has been removed. We have replaced the tape and signs have also been posted informing that the equipment is not to be used.
“We accept no responsibility for the safety of anyone who ignores the steps that we have taken to protect their wellbeing.
“We appreciate the willingness of volunteers to assist in the process of opening and monitoring the equipment but as this does not absolve the council of its legal responsibilities, we will have to decline the offer until such time as we believe it is appropriate to do so.”
Meadow Bank is a development of two, three and four-bedroom homes. Its prices range from £211,000 to £421,000.
Its playground has been closed by developer Kier.
A spokesman said: “The health, safety and welfare of residents is of paramount importance and following the outbreak of Covid-19, we closed the playground at our site in Baldwins Gate in line with Government guidance.
“As a responsible business, we will not be reopening the playground until we deem it safe to do so. We appreciate that the playground is enjoyed by many families within the Meadow Bank community and we will let residents know as soon as it has reopened.”