Due to Health and Safety reasons the large climbing frame in the Parish Council owned playing field next to the Village Hall has been taken out of service. The equipment has been taped off and has signs stating that the equipment is not to be used. As a public body, the Parish Council has to have the equipment inspected on a regular basis, and after consultation with our inspection team and a professional repair company, we decided to close the large frame. We do not have the funds to make the alterations to the frame at this time.
Unfortunately, the tape and signs keep being removed and damaged and the equipment has been used in spite of the warnings. Because of this the PC is looking at whether it is appropriate to remove this piece of equipment. The cost to bring the equipment up to current health and safety requirements is approximately £2500 plus annual maintenance costs. The cost to remove is approximately £500.
We appreciate that the frame is a village asset and a previous PC went to a lot of effort to secure the frame through previous grant schemes. However, if we cannot temporarily suspend the equipment whilst we look at potential grants to replace the frame or pay for the changes, then we will have to remove it.
The remainder of the playground equipment will stay and has been repaired and serviced in line with our latest ROSPA inspection report. The PC is committed to keeping this equipment sage and usable for the future, noting that if safety legislation changes, we will need to respond to any changes and consider our funding at that time.
The PC welcomes feedback from residents – did their families or friends use the large frame, would they want to see us try to keep it and do they have any suggestions to deal with our obligations as a PC bearing in mind our temporary closure is not respected and we have to keep going back and putting new signs and tape on?
If you would like to speak to anyone about this then please do not hesitate to contact the Clerk, Lizzie or any Parish Councillor.