Response from council to Cllr Tom O'halloran 

Case Reference: 101000504750

Thank you for sharing the concerns of your constituent with me, trust that you are well.

I have tasked my officers to take control of the playgroun issues mentioned in your enquiry.

I can confirm that a full litter clearance will be completed and this will involve the play sand pit, which will be raked and fully litter cleared.

The officers will inspect that the playground has no dog signage, our bye laws enforce that play grounds are no dog areas in any of our spaces within the borough.

We complete play inspections of the site, which includes fences, and so on. I will request officers to revisit findings of the most recent play inspections and ensure that defects are rectified.

An order has been placed for additional sand, which will allow for a top up once general maintenance has been completed.

I have also requested that as part of the maintenance a full weed removal is completed, equally that the verges and neighbouring grass areas are managed.

In relation to additional bins and benches, this is for discussion at a later date.

Yours sincerely,
Marcus Harvey

The council have been and carried out some general weeding, strimming and litter picking, surely this is something that should be carried our on a regular basis and not just after numerous emails by many people.

My concern is that the council will do a general repair on things that really need to be replaced. I have noticed that the wooden climbing apparatus has been patched up with tar. I feel this playground has now passed the stage of just general repair and should be considered for replacing.

The sandpit carries a huge health and safety hazard with rats urinating in it and cats using it as a litter tray. The suggestion to replenish the sand is not ideal.

The paving slab was reported to the council many months ago and has not been attended to.
  
I feel the response from them to discuss matters at a later date is simply a tactic they use to avoid their obligations and responsibilities. 
Can they give us a date for a discussion relating to bins and benches? 

In regards to my email regarding the fly-tipping, over grown grass verges etc this was simply to highlight how neglected and unmaintained the area has become.

Kind regards 
Margarita Ippocratous