Council to refurbish four children's playgrounds

Thanet District Council will be drawing up plans in early 2014 to redesign and refurbish children’s playgrounds in Birchington, Cliftonville, Ramsgate and Dumpton in consultation with local residents, schools and community groups.

Every year, to ensure the health and safety of the district’s children, Thanet’s playgrounds are subject to an independent playground assessment undertaken by RoSPA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) to assess any potential risks. This year’s assessment recommended the removal of some pieces of equipment from four of the district’s playground sites; Crispe Park, Birchington, Northdown Park, Cliftonville, Warre Rec, Ramsgate and King George VI Park, Dumpton and so work will begin to remove these on 6 January 2014.

The council considers children’s play provision essential for our communities and so will refurbish the playgrounds at Northdown Park, Warre Rec and King George VI Park and replace the equipment removed at Crispe Park. Unfortunately, this does mean that there will be less equipment available in these parks whilst refurbishment plans are being produced and implemented but there are alternative parks at the following locations:

Park	Alternative location
Crispe Park, Birchington	Park Road, Birchington Recreation Ground, Lymington Road,  Minnis Bay
Northdown Park, Cliftonville	Jennifer Gardens, Dane Valley, Laleham Road or Viking Playground, Cliftonville
Warre Rec, Ramsgate	Ellington Park, Ramsgate, Nethercourt Park, Ramsgate or Princess Margaret Avenue, Newington
King George VI Park, Dumpton	Boundary Road Park, Ramsgate, La Belle Alliance Square, Ramsgate Memorial Rec or Pierremont Park, Broadstairs

The council is also assessing the remaining playgrounds in the district and will release a strategy later in 2014 to outline play provision in Thanet in the short and long term.

Cabinet Member for Community Services, Cllr. Iris Johnson said: “The independent playground assessment is undertaken as best practice and the council always acts on its recommendations. Although as a result of this review, we will be required to remove some items of equipment from four of our playgrounds, I am delighted that we will be providing new and improved facilities to replace them. Children’s play provision is a vital part of a healthy community and we are committed to providing safe and fun places for our children to play in the future.”