Concerned residents in Highbridge have demanded urgent action to improve the safety of a “neglected” council-run play area.
Residents say the Talbot Close play area on the town’s Morland Estate urgently needs attention from Sedgemoor District Council.
Town councillor Alan Miller told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This play area is in serious need of attention – the ground surface is cracking apart and the equipment is rusting after years of neglect.”
“It seriously needs looking at. The district council should be prioritising work here and, if necessary, closing it in the meantime to ensure no-one gets hurt.”
Tina Gray from Highbridge Residents Association, pictured at the play area, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It is a lovely little park, but it definitely needs a facelift. The district council says money is available in its RLT2 community fund from housing developers but the play area has not been prioritised for the work.”
“It’s such a shame that such a well-used play area as this has not been touched by the council since it was built many years ago. If we get the funding from Sedgemooor, I’d like local children to get involved in helping to paint the equipment and make it safe again.”
Sedgemoor’s Parks Officer Harley Cook confirmed that Talbot Close is on its list of local play areas in the Burnham-On-Sea area due to allocated to receive funding for improvements, however he explained that the work is prioritised.
“There are 12 play areas on the list and we proceed with improvements at the rate of two or three a year. Talbot Close is not at the top of the list, so it could be a couple of years away from receiving funding,” he told Burnham-On-Sea.com, adding that the nearby Apex Park play area had received a
James Presley from Sedgemoor District Council’s Clean Surroundings Team added that families should not have safety concerns about the play area. “Regular health and safety inspections are carried out in Talbot Close and at all of our play areas,” he said.
“They are inspected weekly by our operations staff and monthly by external inspectors so if any problems are found they are quickly rectified to ensure safety is maintained.”
Meanwhile, the Town Council’s Clerk, Eileen Shaw, confirmed that she is writing to Sedgemoor District Council this week to follow up the calls for improvements.
