Mepal Parish Council

Damage to Play Fort in play-park – vandalism now suspected

Post updated 28th April after Inspection

Post further updated on 7th May after the manufacturer cancelled the booked safety inspection.

We were notified via an anonymous email to the Parish Clerk on 25th April  that excess movement was being experienced on the wooden play fort in the Mepal Play Park off Laurel Close and after assessment have had to temporarily close this play item until we are able to get confirmation from the manufacturer regarding the safety of continued use. We had booked the manufacturers inspection for 7th May, unfortunately the manufacturer was forced to cancel the inspection and we are currently trying to re-arrange as soon as possible. We apologise for this delay, but this is out of our control.

Please make sure that your children understand that they should not use the play fort for safety reasons until we have received a clean bill of health from the manufacturer.

People are climbing on the top platform, ignoring the safety notices and leaving litter.

This is not safe and is against the explicit clear Parish Council notices that the equipment is out of order

As the fort had very recently passed the annual RoSPA inspection, we have also inspected the equipment ourselves and very worryingly the indications are that someone has attempted to unscrew a number of the screws and bolts at various locations on the frame and this is the main cause of the instability. The loose and damaged screws were not identified at the inspection two weeks previous to the damage report. The Maintenance Manager has today tightened and replaced any damaged screws and confirmed that the level of movement is now back to the previous ‘normal’ levels, but until we have the manufacturers assessment report we do not feel that the equipment should be used, so it sadly remains off limits to all.

We apologise for any inconvenience, and would also send a plea out to those persons who feel it is acceptable to take tools to the park with the express purpose of damaging or dismantling the equipment to stop doing this. This more recent issue with the play fort comes after the theft of the hub caps on the 4×4 and it is completely unacceptable.

Please stop vandalising the equipment in the playpark – it is ruining the facility for the younger children!

This is a mindful act of vandalism as it required someone to bring tools key with them to unscrew bolts and screws. We are trying our best to get new equipment and improve the facilities and it is really disheartening to see continual damage undermining our efforts.

Initial posting 14:12 on 25 April 2021, updated on 28th April, further updated on 7th May

 

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