The Welney Website
Childrens play equipment at Welney Playing Field
Page created April 2006, amended/updated Tuesday, 02 November 2010
| Report by the Webmaster, Apr 2006 |
The play equipment that was once the pride of the Playing Field Management Committee, and a joy to several generations of Welney children, sadly fell into a rather neglected state some years ago. There had been some vandalism but it was mainly a lack of maintenance due to a shortage of funds and volunteers to do the work. The area was also damp because it was in the shadow of nearby high trees, and it became overgrown. The problems were discussed many times by the Playing Field Management Committees and by the Parish Council.
In November 2003, at a meeting of the Parish Council, the equipment was declared unsafe and it was agreed that the equipment would be fenced off until it could be removed (by two councilors with their farm machinery) and the ground made good.
In April 2004 the Welney Playing Field Committee held its AGM and elected a new Committee for the following year. Among other items discussed was, again, the matter of the play equipment. It was agreed that the equipment should be moved because bird droppings created a health hazard and the toy train would be repainted to give under-fives something to play on.
In November 2004 the Parish Council received nearly £4,000 from the Gala 2004 Committee specifically to help provide new play equipment at the Playing Field.
In April 2006 the old equipment was still in place as can be seen from the following photos; and there was no sign of the fencing promised by the Council in Nov 2003.
Above: toy train looks sound, but overgrown; swing top held together by wire coathanger; swing seat covered in bird droppings.
Below: the climbing frame appears basically sound, but needs new netting and a repair to a rotten cross member (right)
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Acknowledgements. textand photos © Peter Cox. If you think this report is incorrect, incomplete or unfair, please e-mail the webmaster, and your response will be added. |
Update:
When questioned during public participation at a Council meeting in spring 2006 the chairman admitted that the Council had not applied for any further funding, and said it would not buy any new equipment until the site of their new Community Centre was decided.
| Related pages on this website |
| Aug 04 Gala raises £4k for play equip |
| Apr 06 Dilapadated equip (this page) |
| May 06 No action by Council |
| Sep 06 WPC chairman to clear site |
| Related pages on external websites |