Wakefield playgrounds could be closed amid safety fears

A total of five playgrounds in Wakefield could be closed and grassed because of safety concerns, a report has suggested.

The district’s playgrounds featured equipment that was at least a decade out of date, according to the business report to senior councillors.

The set did not comply with modern safety legislation and there was not enough money in the budget to upgrade a total of 11 allocated locations, the document said.

As a result, the “most prudent option” was to close five of the playgrounds, added the report to be considered by councilors on Tuesday.

According to the report, replacement parts for the playgrounds were “very difficult, if not impossible, to procure due to their age.” Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The document called on the authority to adopt a new 18-month improvement program for the play area’s equipment, which was expected to cost £713,000.

A total of six playgrounds in the district have been prioritized for investment and renovation amid concerns about the asphalt surface at some of them, the report said.

The other five playgrounds were identified as not being “strategically important” and having “very low play value scores”.

The report added: “Our parks and green spaces have developed piecemeal over much of the last century.

“Without an overall strategic plan, they have left our communities with a disjointed offering in terms of quality, location, suitability and condition.”

Neither playground location was mentioned in the report.

Wakefield Council had a budget of £98,000 for repairs to the play area, which would not cover all the work required, according to the report.

It recommended the removal of all playgrounds that did not comply with current safety legislation.

It also called for a redevelopment program for other play areas that would be “end of life” in the next 12 months.

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