Play area disruption
A council inspection has found inadequate surfacing at a small number of its 70 plus play areas.
As a result, affected play equipment in the following play areas will be temporarily fenced off: Galgate (Beech Av), Bolton-Le-Sands (Church Brow), Ridge (Ambleside Rd), Arcon House, Crag Bank (recreation field), Forest Park, Low Moor, Torrisholme (Lancaster Road), Mainways, Green Street, Barnacre Close, Furness Street, Slyne, Montrose Crescent.
A districtwide playground review is currently taking place, the results of which are due to be presented to Cabinet in April. The last review, which took place in 2006, resulted in £137,000 on improvements to 12 of the district’s key play areas.
Commenting, Coun Jon Barry, Cabinet member with responsibility for City Council (Direct) Services, said: “While the vast majority of our play areas were found to be in good repair, a small number of the council’s *low priority and older play areas do not have suitable safety surfacing. For this reason some equipment has been temporarily fenced off.”
Editor’s Note
* As a result of the 2006 review each playground was given a score based on a number of factors including frequency of use, proximity to other free playgrounds for similar age groups, surrounding demographics and their location (including the need to have playgrounds in strategic locations that are visited regularly).
These rankings formed the basis of a priority list for investment to ensure that the limited budget the council has to maintain and improve play areas is targeted towards where investment will be of the most benefit.
Date Published: 15/02/10