Unsafe play equipment removed from southern park

The authority inspected play equipment in Poulsom Park last week

Play equipment deemed "unsafe and unacceptable" by a local authority in the south of the Isle of Man has been removed from a park.

Castletown Commissioners have taken down the damaged swings from the children's play area in Poulsom Park in the town.

In a statement the board, which was elected in April, said it had inherited a "frustrating situation" where some of the equipment had been allowed to deteriorate in recent years.

Commissioners chairman Tony Brown said he understood the disappointment that would be felt by many children and their families but "their safety was paramount".

The authority said new swings have been ordered so children could "continue to safely enjoy playing" in the space in future.

Members of the board said they believed rusting and other issues were due to "wear and tear" and said it should have been dealt with previously.

The rusted swings have been taken down from the area at Poulsom Park

The commissioners also separately confirmed another children's play area at the Bowling Green in the town would not be reopening over the summer.

A £50,000 revamp of the site had not progressed as planned, the authority said.

Brown said: "We can't have equipment that they may injure themselves on because it is deficient."

"We're not dismantling children's play areas, we see the provision of play equipment for children as being very important, because it's needed for learning skills and having fun," he said.

The board were taking actions to resolve the issues in both parks "as soon as possible", he added.