Parents’ £100,000 play park plea
‘We will apply to the East Kintyre Community Council Windfarm Trust for up to £5,000’
A CRUMBLING children’s play park built for a Kintyre village’s millennial generation is in urgent need of refurbishment.
Equipment which would have been stateof-the-art when it was installed 16 years ago, in 2000, has been highlighted as being a cause for concern and one in particular – an aerial slide – has been condemned.
A fresh play park committee has been formed and it reckons that complete refurbishment could cost up to £100,000, so has started intensive fundraising.
The deficiencies came to light during an insurance inspection when the zip wire was deemed unsafe.
A play tower was highlighted as being potentially dangerous as there is no barrier to prevent children falling from the top.
The fireman’s pole on that piece of equipment is positioned out of reach of the age group of children the tower is aimed at and the see-saw has been recommended for removal.
Committee chairperson Stacie Harper, who has children aged five and three, said: ‘It would be truly devastating if these pieces were removed and not replaced. The park would be sparse and unstimulating for our youngsters.
‘The park is on ground owned by the community council but it says it is down to the play park committee to find funds.
‘We need a signifi- cant amount and need funding to get match funding. The Big Lottery Fund might give £10,000 but it would have to be matched.
‘So far the Kintyre Club has donated £250 and our Just Giving page is up to £325. We will apply to the East Kintyre Community Council Windfarm Trust for up to £5,000.
‘When we started out we had hoped to get work done by Easter next year.’
Committee treasur-
er Emma Macalister Hall added: ‘It is the only safe place in the village to play and it would be great to have equipment which is really safe.
‘The beach is good but there is much more parental involvement as it is a potentially dangerous place.
‘Older children can come to the play park unsupervised. It is not just for village children, as it is used by kids from the caravan site and holiday makers in the summer.’
Alternative
Mrs Harper concluded: ‘The nearest alternative parks to Carradale are a bus or car journey away and not everyone has a car and there is no bus service on a Sunday, which is the perfect day for families to spend quality time together at a swing park.
‘This project is uniting young and old and will ultimately benefit everyone in our remote community.’