WALTHAMSTOW: Council slammed for dirty and "neglected" playgrounds

1:50pm Wednesday 26th November 2008

By Carl Brown

THE wretched state of children's playgrounds in Walthamstow's High Street ward has been put under the spotlight by local councillors and residents.

Parents fear for the safety of their children in the run down play areas, where facilities appear neglected or are vandalised and rubbish accumulates.

Cllr James O'Rourke slammed the council for allowing playgrounds in Stoneydown Park, Coppermill Lane and the town centre to deteriorate.

The Guardian visited the three playgrounds to check out the state of the facilities.

Beer cans, plastic bags and other litter could be seen in the hedges surrounding the playground in Stoneydown Park and the park benches were covered in graffiti.

The matting in the under sevens play area was covered in grubby, worn black patches, and safety mats under the swings had been peeled back, presumably by vandals, creating a health and safety risk.

Childminder Sonia Kleinknecht, 38, lives nearby and sometimes wants to take children to the park.

But she said: "It is not suitable for a child to play there with the rubbish, I fear there could be broken glass.

"The council should do more to make it a better place for children to play, it should be cleaned much more often."

A section of fencing around the playground had been pulled down and a tyre was found dumped in a hedge.

But the playground in the town centre, just off the Town Square, which has appeared in the Guardian's pages before for being dirty before, was in a cleaner state, although there were still leaves, paper and cigarette butts.

Terry Geddes, 22, and Nicola King, 22, sometimes visit the Town Square playground with their two-year-old son Isaiah.

Mr Geddes said : "I have noticed a problem with kids hanging around drinking and littering, but I am not sure whether it is the council's fault."

Miss King said: "It is not good for kids for there to be some much rubbish around, you worry that your child may pick up a beer can."

Street cleaning contractor Kier is also required to clean parks and playgrounds and it is the responsibility of leisure cabinet member Cllr Geraldine Reardon to make sure it is carrying out its duties.

In a joint statement Cllr O'Rourke and his Lib Dem colleague Johar Khan said: "We are extremely concerned that these playgrounds are being neglected and we call on Cllr Reardon to take immediate action."

A council spokesman said the Coppermill and Town Centre playgrounds were resurfaced last year and are visited by street cleaners every day.

Cllr Reardon said: "A total of £2.4 million has been spent on improving our parks and open spaces over the past three years, including £400,000 on major improvements to 14 play sites."