Highland Council 'working hard' to address condition of play parks amid anger over closures on safety grounds
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Highland Council says staff and members are working together locally to address the condition of play parks especially where they have been closed for safety reasons.
It follows a public outcry across the area after play equipment was removed or fenced off after being deemed unsafe following health and safety inspections by the council.
In total, 40 sites across the region are closed, pending equipment repair or new safety surfacing replacement.
The council has 339 play parks and over 2500 pieces of play equipment.
In a statement, the council said it recognised the work of communities to improve play areas and their ongoing help was welcomed.
It also said the provision of play parks was not a statutory duty but the inspection and maintenance of equipment once installed, was mandatory.
Play parks are subject to daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly inspection based on usage and risk and an annual inspection is carried out by a qualified play park inspector.
The statement continued: "Highland Council recognises the positive effects play parks and their social benefits have on children’s mental health and well-being.
"This has been particularly highlighted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.
"Ongoing inspections have raised a number of safety concerns at some sites, which has resulted in play equipment being removed or, as a last resort, the park being temporarily closed until it can be made safe to reopen.
"Highland Council recently made decisions that will help direct more money towards play parks."
In January, for example, it agreed local area committees could allocate any unspent Covid-19 ward funding towards play parks and invested a further £240,000 to make sure each ward had the same amount of Covid-19 ward funding available.
A further £100,000 is earmarked for play areas and is still to be allocated.
Other local sources of funding have been identified such as coastal communities funding, Common Good funds, any appropriate national funding streams as well as local donations
The council also agreed in a collaborative budget this month to allocate a further £100,000 for each of its 21 wards for discretionary spending which could also be invested in play parks.
The council also agreed a new approach in January to take forward play park improvements, involving staff and members working closely together to discuss and agree priorities, identify funding sources and to consider any support available from volunteers or community bodies.
The council said it was keen to work with community groups to keep sites open and cited efforts by Beauly residents who organised play grade bark to be installed.
Following agreement by Aird and Loch Ness councillors, play grade bark will be bought using the ward budget to enable parks in the ward to reopen.
In Easter Ross, area committee members have already agreed to spend part of their unspent Covid-19 discretionary ward funding on maintaining play parks, supported with money from Kiltearrn Community Council which applied for wind farm community funding.
Chairman of the communities and place committee, Cllr Allan Henderson, said: "These ambitious Highland Health and Prosperity Strategy investments are very much open to local councillors and community initiatives on how the money is invested in their own community.
"Many have indicated play parks are a priority which ties in nicely with the health theme for youngsters and their hard-pressed parents."
Leader of the opposition Cllr Raymond Bremner added: "The additional money for wards will enable local decision making to be made where there are local priorities."
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Easter Ross councillors earmark cash for playparks
