In Bath, the playground at Loxton Drive in Twerton has been shut down and chained off by Bath and North East Somerset Council, sparking frustration among local parents. The closure began in mid-July and is expected to last throughout the entire six-week summer holiday.
The council has initiated work to replace the aging play equipment, a process projected to take up to four weeks according to a notice posted at the site. Officials describe the closure as an emergency safety measure, following an inspection that deemed the current equipment unsafe for use.
However, many parents dispute this reasoning and are upset about the timing. Samantha Middleton, a local mother, expressed her concerns: “A week before the summer holidays, BANES partially dismantled the park for upgrades without citing any immediate danger. Since then, the park has been left in an unsafe condition with gates chained shut.” She questions why the work started at the beginning of the summer break instead of during school weeks when children are less reliant on the park. Middleton also worries about the impact on children’s mental health, emphasizing how valuable outdoor play is during the holidays.
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In response, Deputy Council Leader Sarah Warren acknowledged the inconvenience but emphasized that a routine inspection revealed the equipment’s unsafety, necessitating immediate closure. Warren also confirmed that the replacement had been planned as part of a broader investment in local parks, and efforts are underway to complete the upgrades as quickly as possible.
While the council aims to improve facilities, the decision to close the playground during the peak time for its use has left many families feeling overlooked and frustrated.