Penrith Town Council has been forced to bypass its usual procurement procedures and appoint a contractor to carry out urgent safety repairs at Fair Hill play park, following concerns raised in an independent inspection.
The inspection identified issues with the safety surface beneath the log swing, as well as an ongoing defect affecting the two-way spring cockerel play equipment. Both were assessed as posing a potential risk of harm to users.
Council officers were alerted to the problems through the independent play area inspection report, which concluded that immediate action was required to ensure the site remained safe for public use.
The emergency works have resulted in a total cost of £8,563.58. This includes £5,105.50 for replacement wetpour surfacing beneath the log swing, £1,708.51 for the removal of the spring cockerel and installation of a new spinner bowl with safety matting, £1,259.57 for fencing, welfare and delivery, and £490 for a post-installation inspection report.
The council stated that without the repairs, the play park posed a “risk of potential harm for play area users falling on the surface underneath the log swing” and a further risk “should the spring cockerel base fail”.
Fair Hill is currently the only play park owned and operated by Penrith Town Council, who spent £70,000 on refurbishment of the play park and equipment in 2020. Other play areas in the town are owned and maintained by Westmorland and Furness Council.
Despite the previously missed safety issues with the one playpark the town council owns, the council’s finance committee is due to consider a report in private session on Monday evening that could see the town council take on responsibility for Carleton Park, including its ongoing safety and maintenance.
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