Latest news with #playground
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Wigton Park vandals leave abusive message and smear playground in mud
Vandals smeared a children's playground with mud, dug several holes and carved an offensive message into a nearby area of grass, a council in Cumbria has Town Council said its staff had now filled in a 6ft (1.8m) deep hole that appeared last weekend at Wigton Park's BMX abusive message aimed at the local authority was carved into an area of grass on Tuesday, while several pieces of equipment in the children's playground were covered in mud. Cumbria Police said it had received a report of criminal damage between 21 and 24 June, which included fences being knocked down and holes being dug. Wigton Park, located on the Greenacres housing estate, was established in 1923 as a public recreation council said there had been a BMX track there since the the weekend of 21 and 22 June, the council said a series of holes had appeared - including the deep one - while parts of a fence were council said this "raised serious health and safety concerns" so the hole was filled in on Monday. Along with the damage to the playground, which happened on Tuesday night, the council said there was "evidence of trees being pulled out and knocked over in nearby Phoenix Park". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sandwell Council shares plans for 'dilapidated' playground amid 'closure fears' as equipment removed
Sandwell Council has allayed fears a popular play area was being quietly closed and announced plans for a refurbishment. Families had noticed that equipment was gradually disappearing from The Big Adventure Playground at Sandwell Valley Country Park in West Bromwich. One mum took to social media to question what was happening as she said there were "no swings, no access to the slides, no zip wires, no basket swings or anything" when she visited with her son. "Is Sandwell Valley Country Park Adventure Playground being taken down or something?", she said. READ MORE: 10-second siren to blare from every phone in the UK in 'emergency alert' Others had noticed the decline too, as one Facebook user responded: "I thought this the other day when I went. "It's also so dilapidated and filthy, hardly anything there and the things that are left are dirty and don't work properly. Needs a good over haul and clean." "It was like this in the Easter holidays," another reply read. "Such a shame used to be a really good park." After BirminghamLive contacted Sandwell Council to see what the future held for the site, a spokesperson said: "We are pleased to confirm that we're going to be refurbishing the Sandwell Valley Park adventure play area this financial year." However the local authority said equipment had been removed due "wear and tear", and had not been taken away in preparation for the upcoming project. The spokesperson added: "The play area was originally installed approximately 12 years ago and has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. "However, due to its age and heavy usage, much of the equipment has reached the end of its serviceable life. "We have replaced individual components where possible, but unfortunately, some items have deteriorated beyond economical repair and have had to be removed for safety reasons." The council said that prior to UKSPF funding being secured, it had "no viable means of addressing this gradual decline", but said there was now "a clear path forward". Visitors have been told the play area will remain open throughout the school summer holidays. The council aims to "complete the improvement works within the current financial year".
BBC News
7 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
North Tyneside Council 'cannot keep repairing vandal hit park'
Repairs to rectify a "long history of vandalism" at a popular play park are becoming too costly, a council has Park Playground in Backworth, North Tyneside, has been targeted by repeated vandalism since the early incidents led North Tyneside Council to install a durable surface designed to cover and protect damaged areas of the playground at a cost of £16, the council says a new area of rubber surfacing has recently been ripped, causing a small deep hole. They said the new surfacing had so far "withstood attempts to damage it, including efforts to melt it using electric scooters".Although the hole was being fixed, the council said the authority did not have the budget to "carry out ongoing repairs of this scale".The site had its play area removed in 2007 after continuous damage became too expensive to maintain, with a new playground added in 2013. Castle Park is overlooked by homes and regularly used by dog walkers, families and people travelling to and from bus stops nearby, but the council said the incidents were "rarely reported".Hannah Johnson, cabinet member for the environment, said: "Play areas are incredibly important to local families so it's really frustrating to see them damaged, especially repeatedly. "A significant amount of resources has been invested in this site over recent years to address ongoing issues. "Continued vandalism not only undermines these efforts but also places additional strain on maintenance and repair services. "We are committed to keeping the playground a safe and enjoyable space for everyone." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Flimby boys collect 600 signatures to improve playground
Two boys who describe their local playground as "broken, boring and full of graffiti" are campaigning to have it Ethan, and Kaelan, 13, have been knocking on doors and asking people to sign a petition calling for Flimby Playground in Cumbria to be have collected almost 600 signatures and plan to take their petition to Cumberland council said it welcomes suggestions on how to improve its play areas and will meet with the boys to discuss how it can help put their plans into action. Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, Ethan said: "We want some better stuff that's not rusty, and some more stuff for the older [ones] and little ones."If we put an AstroTurf football pitch [in the park] then the children of Flimby could use it to play football on. "Then, if it is winter and raining, Flimby rugby team can use it too." Kaelan's mother, Nicola, said news of the boys' campaign work had "spread through the village"."Flimby is a very, very tight community. We all know each other and we all speak about each other's children," she said."I work at the local school, and I have had people come up to me and tell me how proud they are of the boys." The campaign has won the support of Labour's Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, who said he had written to Cumberland Council asking for "funding to be allocated for investment in the park"."I'm hopeful of a positive response from the council, and to make it a fantastic playground for local children and young people of all ages once again," he Council said it maintains dozens of play facilities and does all it can to make them "welcoming and safe sites to visit"."We will soon be meeting up with the youngsters from Flimby to see how we can support putting their plans into action," a council spokesperson said. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Ceres playground damaged in fire, arson suspected
A play structure in Ceres' Independence Park is believed to have been intentionally lit on fire, according to authorities. Early Wednesday morning, first responders showed up to the Peltola Street neighborhood and found that the Independence Park playground had been burned. Stanislaus Regional FIU Some parts of the play structure were scorched and melted. The whole playground is now fenced off. No suspect information was available, but authorities are asking anyone who may have seen anything to submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers or to contact the Ceres Police Department. Ceres officials didn't give any details about when the playground will be repaired.
