Eastbourne mum calls for action on 'dangerous' playground
A MUM is scared to let her toddler play in the 'dangerous' playground opposite their Langney home.
Nicola Champion is calling for action to be taken to make the park opposite West Rise School safe for children to play in.
The 33-year-old, who takes her 15-month-old son Blake to play in the park, says the trees at the exit to the park by Sevenoaks Road are overgrown, meaning it's difficult for mums with buggies to cross the road.
She said, "I can't see what cars are coming as my view's completely obscured by the trees. They need cutting before a bad accident happens."
Nicola also found son Blake playing with the rusty spike in the playgound, which was left behind when a roundabout was removed several months ago. The spike has now been removed but Nicola said it shouldn't have been left in the playground at all.
She said, "The council took away the roundabout but left this sharp, rusty two-foot pole behind which my son was obsessed with.
"Workmen put a bit of red and white tape around it to warn children not to go near it but it's just attracted them to it instead.
"Why couldn't they take that away at the same time? It's an accident waiting to happen."
The full-time mum said there's also a tyre ride which has been out of action for weeks which is dangling on a rickety frame.
She said, "The frame looks as if it will fall down and someone keeps tying up the tyre so it can't be used, but why don't they repair it instead?
"The park used to be lovely but now it's dangerous and in a really poor condition. It's a shame because Blake and lots of other small children love playing here.
"This is ruining their fun, especially when it's hot."
"Why have the council let the park and trees get into such a bad condition. Isn't that what we pay our council tax for?"
An Eastbourne Borough Council spokesperson said, "The bearings on the roundabout at this playground recently failed and the roundabout was removed whilst awaiting the spare parts. The roundabout should be repaired this week.
"The large tyre swing has had two recent problems with the chains and fixings and the tyre swing was chained up to prevent the risk of an accident.
"The playground manufacturers are returning to replace the fixings and we have received no reports from our contractors that the chain bolt has been cropped off.
"There are some trees near the entrance and although these don't block the visibility when standing on the tactile paving, pruning works are planned for later this year."
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 15 C to 21 C
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