Agenda item

A verbal update on Central Park and other play areas by the BTAC Lead Officer to include reference to Central Park following the committee’s recent site visit.

The Play and Physical Activity Officer present the report, advising committee of the recent site visit which committee had undertaken of BTAC’s play areas, which had concluded with a long visit to the play are within Central Park to consider improvements to the facility.  Examples of new equipment and costings had been provided on the site visit and member were asked to agree a way forward for the upgrading of the site.

Member comments included the poor state of disrepair noted during the site visit and the level of uncleanliness with significant coverage of bird faeces on the ground and equipment.  Referencing the overhanging trees from where most of the faces came from, a member questioned the possible re location of the play area to the far end of the park to provide a brand new facility instead of throwing good money after bad in trying to refurbish the current site.  Whilst the suggestion had been raised on the site visit, the Officer confirmed that having considered it, it would not be possible for a variety of reasons, including the loss of the new area which was already used for large events and the existing site was placed away from the larger children’s activities and was close to the toilets and café for the parents of the younger children.  What could be considered was moving the equipment forward from under the overhanging trees out into the open, with the area behind possibly being turned into a nature area for families.  The trees did not belong to the Council but the Lead Officer advised that the grounds team could be consulted in clearing the debris where possible.

A member suggested that finances needed to be concentrated on flooring for the site with safety grass being used as opposed to hard standing and the existing equipment could be re furbished.  Officers agreed that would be the preferable option but advised it was costly and the current floor levels would need considerable hard engineering to get them to the requisite level and standard.  However, a children’s play area was a critical fall from height risk and others sites visited on the tour had the safety grass aside some of the play installations.

Other comments and concerns noted the current fencing of the site which appeared unwelcoming, issues in respect of cyclists riding through the area on a regular basis, a lack of CCTV coverage and open ongoing acts of anti-social behaviour including urination deterring visitors.  Issues of littering through the park as a whole were noted with broken glass and detritus build ups across the park and rotten seating.  Members did agree that the actual facilities offered by the park had improved significantly and the need for a re- introduction of a wheelchair swing would complement the new toilet provision, giving a greater inclusivity to locals and visitors.

RESOLVED:

That a Member Working Group be convened to consider the options for re-furbishing the Central Park Play Area and a report be tabled to the next scheduled meeting on the 8 September 2022 to allow a decision to be made on the way forward.

It is recorded that Councillors Katie Chalmers, Neill Hastie and Yvonne Stevens volunteered for the MWG which would be facilitated by the Play and Physical Activity Officer