COUNCILLORS have agreed to splash nearly £10,000 on funding a shopping list of repairs to play areas in Wellington.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s environment committee supported a recommendation to make £10,000 available from the authority’s play area responsive maintenance budget.

The council’s open spaces manager, Darren Hill, told councillors on November 19 that a recent review had been carried out of play areas in the town to ensure they met British and European safety standards.

“The play areas were inspected by an independent specialist, The Play Inspection Company, in October to review and ensure the long-term safety of the sites, equipment and ancillary items,” said Mr Hill in a report. “As a result of this inspection, numerous works requiring action were identified. The primary goal is to ensure that play areas are safe for children to use and meet current safety standards.

“They do these by identifying potential hazards and risks associated with the equipment and play area, looking for signs of major wear and tear, vandalism and long-term structural problems.”

The list of improvements include play area surface repairs at Warren Road, Dobree Park and Westford Grange; timber fencing repairs at Burrough Way; new gates needed at Chestnut Close and Weavers Reach; removal of rubber surface at Corner Close play area; painting required at Chestnut Close, Deboree Park and Warren Road; and a new metal gate on the entrance at Jurston Lane where the slow-release needs replacing.

Councillors were warned that if the play areas were not kept up to the necessary safety standards then insurers could refuse to pay out if it was proven that the council ignored identified risks or failed to maintain amenities as recommended in inspection reports.

Mr Hill added: “If an accident occurred and it was shown that hazards were identified in an inspection but not rectified, we might be found negligent.

“This would result in compensation for injuries and massive reputational damage for the council undermining public confidence.”

He added that existing small defects could deteriorate into major issues if ignored and would lead to much higher repair or replacement costs further down the line.

Mr Hill concluded: “We would be found in serious breach of our statutory requirements if we did not ensure that play areas were safe by not acting on the recommended works required in the inspection report. This would result in significant fines.”

With the warnings presented in Mr Hill’s report coming loud and clear, it was little wonder that councillors agreed very quickly to agree to his request to make up to £10,000 funding so that the necessary works at the play areas could be carried out.

Other works include new signs and repairs at Westford Grange, improvements to the swing at Wellington Recreation Ground and other equipment repairs, and fencing improvements.

Councillors have always been keen to ensure that local play areas are kept to a good standard to as part of the council’s overall vision for Wellington to create a “safe and secure town.”