'Dangerous' Walsall play area reopened after revamp
Delighted residents of a Walsall social housing estate are finally able to use a popular play park which was closed off because it was deemed dangerous.
Frustrated parents had to explain to their children on a daily basis that the facility in the middle of the group of apartment blocks that make up Chuckery Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) area was out of bounds.
But now a near-£40,000 project has seen the unsafe equipment replaced and the area extended and enhanced, much to the relief of families living there. They said it has made a significant difference to their lives since children were allowed back on just over a week ago.
The project to overhaul the pocket park was spearheaded by resident Marina Beckett, who is chair of the TMO committee that represents the people living there.
She was supported by officers from the TMO and Watmos Community Homes, which owns the estate, and they managed to secure a £25,500 pocket park grant from the Government. The committee put in a further £14,000 to complete the project.
Wear and tear
She said: “The old equipment had been in over 20 odd years so I looked at it from metal fatigue, plus the wooden parts to it had all disintegrated. Although we had been looking after it, the wear and tear had an effect.
“I closed it off because I didn’t want that risk. We obtained funding and put our own money into it as well.
“We have extended it a little to include a grass area so parents with little babies have space to come to. There will be benches installed next year.
“But it’s for the kids, keep fit starts when you’re a baby.”
Resident Dean Sedgwick said his two-year-old son Elliot has already become a regular on the park.
He said: “It’s great because Elliot can come out here and has a play right by our home. It has made a significant difference to all of our lives.
“With lockdown, any opportunity to get outside with him without having to put ourselves or anyone else at risk is great. He loves it here, he runs around and enjoys it.”
The work was all set to start in March but the Covid-19 lockdown meant that it had to be delayed by a few more months.
Not fair
Lisa Lockley, Watmos community development officer, said: “It was dangerous and it was such a shame because the little kids were asking why they couldn’t go on and the parents were having that same argument every day.
“We had to delay the installation because it was Covid. We didn’t think it was fair to have something new and then not be able to use it.
“The play area was run down and for people living here having to walk past something in disrepair wasn’t making them feel good.
“But now having something new is valuable. It’s important from a health perspective to enable them to go out.
“People are living in flats and some of them have two or three children so it is important they get the opportunity to go outside.”
And Martin Thomas, Chuckery TMO tenancy services officer added: “It’s made such a difference.
“It has given the parents somewhere to go to on their door step and not have to go to the Arboretum, which is a trek with a couple of children and having to cross the busy road.”
