Decision details

To approve the removal of play equipment that has been out of use due to vandalism for the past 18 months (and many times previously due to vandalism) with remediation of the space back to grass.

Decision

To remove the Station Road play area and remediate the space back to grass at a cost in the region of £15k, due to consistent vandalism and the high cost of maintaining the play area.

This play area has suffered consistent vandalism since opening. Maintenance of the equipment and particularly the safety surfacing is expensive and repairs and reopening then result in further vandalism and closure pending more maintenance work.

As this play area is a few hundred metres from the larger play area on Manor Field, closure and removal of this currently closed facility will not impact on community access to play areas and will reduce wasting public funds on an area that will continue to be vandalised.

1.    Fix the currently vandalised play surface at a cost of approximately £25,000 - £30,000

2.    Add CCTV to the current area at a cost of a further £20,000 (due to power requirements)