Mid and East Antrim Council: Ageing play parks may close for safety reasons

Mid and East Antrim Council manages 67 play parks and at some sites the play equipment is reaching the end of its life

A number of play parks in the Mid and East Antrim Council area could shut after safety inspectors raised concerns about equipment.

Councillors were advised of concerns in a report which highlighted the findings of an annual parks inspection in March.

The report warned failure to act could lead to "enforced closure in due course due to health and safety concerns".

Councillors have now agreed to hold a four-week community consultation on the future of some of the older play parks.

Some of the parks affected by ageing equipment could be cleared and "transformed" into grass areas, a council meeting has heard.

It was stated that "transformation of play parks is only considered when a play park has reached the end of its life and is no longer fit for purpose or safe to use".

Mid and East Antrim Council manages 67 play parks and is responsible for picking up the bill to maintain and repair the children's facilities.

Since 2019, the local authority has spent £3.3m on play park refurbishments.

Recently the council's interim chief executive Valerie Watts confirmed the organisation as a whole is facing a £7.2m shortfall in its finances.

'Significant financial savings'

The ongoing cost of park repairs was discussed in a report presented to the council's Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee on Tuesday night.

The report said: "The transformation of play parks listed will provide significant financial savings.

"The play parks identified have ongoing issues for a variety of reasons which result in significant investment each year to ensure safety for users."

Council-owned play park equipment is subjected to regular safety inspections

An independent annual inspection of play parks in March highlighted a number of sites with "significant issues of concern with regard to health and safety", the report added.

Councillors have already prioritised sites for investment and others for potential transformation during consultation for the Fixed Play Investment Framework 2023.

• In Larne, Bardic Drive in Antiville has been identified for possible closure as the council says equipment is "no longer fit for purpose" and would require a "full refurbishment". The site is likely to become a grass area.

• Ransevyn Park and Windsor Park in Whitehead are "reaching end of life status" according to the council. It is anticipated that both will become grass areas.

• Carnlough's "natural" play park has "significant anti-social behaviour issues" and equipment is "no longer fit for purpose", the council says. The council has indicated it will "revert to natural habitat" with tree planting, if the consultation is "in agreement".

• Moat Play Park in Ballymena is expected to "revert to a heritage site".

• Smithfield/Lamont may become a "community orchard".

• Ahoghill Community Play Park; Maine Play Park and Maybin Play Park are also listed for potential closure.

• Newpark play park in Magheramorne will be monitored until the next "major repair" is required when it is likely to close.

• In Carrickfergus, discussions are expected to take place with local stakeholders over the future of Sunnylands Play Park.

• Windmill will be monitored while the council explores investment opportunity through local developments.

During Tuesday's meeting, councillor Marc Collins stated: "Some on the list for transformation, I would be reluctant to support. The Windmill report says the park is at the end of its life. It does not seem that way when you are there.

"Would it not need a clean up and fresh lick of paint? Would that not suffice for some of these parks?"

Mr Collins was advised equipment is "becoming dangerous" and the council does not have "the resources and budget to replace equipment or continue to patch it".

Mr Collins said he was "happy to start the process and see what local people's thoughts are".

The four-week community consultation will begin in December.

Members of the public who use the parks under threat of closure will be notified through signage at those playgrounds.