Safety Victory for Firs Lane Play Ground

9.34.38am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 28th Jul 2006

The site of the removed climbing frame: local councillors Prater, Gane and Smith are committed to getting the frame replaced as soon as possible.

Following pressure from local councillors, Shepway Council have removed an unsafe climbing frame from the Firs Lane play area in Cheriton. Councillor Peter Gane called the council to find why the gates were locked in July, to be told the equipment had failed County safety tests in APRIL.

Peter said:

"I couldn't believe it. They should have put up proper signs and altered the media at the time."

The gates to the Firs Lane / Shaftesbury Avenue playground have been locked since April, and a couple of small signs have been on display. Many local residents were not aware of the closure however - a number children have been using the unsafe play equipment throughout.

Tim Prater, Peter Gane and Lynne Smith erected more signs and signs and taped off the play equipment last Friday, and called on the council to get the equipment and its surrounding flooring repaired.

Local councillors Peter Gane, Tim Prater and Lynne Smith are now working to get the play equipment replaced, and for new safety flooring to be installed.