'Managed decline' of play areas discussed

COUNCIL CONSIDERS ITS APPROACH TO FUTURE OF SITES AT MEETING

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT Local democracy reporter

PLAY areas in Redcar are in “managed decline” and could face closures in the future, a council meeting heard.

Redcar and Cleveland councillors were told they could face similar decisions to Stockton Council, where leaders recently decided to slowly phase out 11 play areas in an overhaul described as putting “quality over quantity”.

Jay Hosie, Redcar Council’s service lead for safer communities and streetscene, said the authority needed to think about “uncomfortable” choices including “rationalising” play areas across the borough, though no decisions have been made yet.

Referring to Stockton’s approach, she said some play areas were “beyond economic repair and they have to consider where they're spending money. I can well imagine there are a lot of communities in Stockton who really aren’t happy about that.

“That's obviously something we face ourselves if we look at doing that,” she told the council's climate and environment scrutiny and improvement committee on Monday, October 27.

She told how the council had 64 play areas with 648 pieces of equipment, including 56 pieces of equipment permanently out of action, with 30 incidents of vandalism in the last year, 17 of which were reported to the police, and two serious fires at School Lane and Greengates.

Ms Hosie said: “We've got five sites regularly targeted all of the time. What we decide to do with parks, vandalism and antisocial behaviour is key in that decision making.”

Budget is 'not going to buy us an awful lot'

The council spent £65,000 last year resurfacing six play areas, with the same amount to be spent this year on resurfacing, with another £65,000 on three other capital projects.