Park closed on safety grounds to be rebuilt

PARENTS are celebrating the news a Chiswick playground is to be rebuilt just months after it was dismantled over health and safety concerns.

The play area in Stamford Brook Common was torn down by the council in August after a routine inspection by RoSPA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) raised concerns about the rotten wood in the ageing equipment.

Alison Colling, of nearby Ranelagh Gardens, who was angry about the lack of consultation, collected 350 signatures on a petition demanding the playground's restoration.

At last Tuesday's (December 14) borough council meeting, Councillor Pritam Grewal, lead member for leisure and well-being, assured residents it would be rebuilt by March next year using a combination of funding from the Government's Playbuilders scheme and section 106 contributions from local developers.

Mrs Colling said she 'very pleased' with the announcement but insisted there had never been any need to remove the equipment in the first place.

"I'm pleased the council has realised the error of its ways and decided to reinstate the playground," added the 39-year-old mother-of-two. "That was the only nearby place for my children to play safely. I'm delighted the whole community, including local dog-walkers, got behind this campaign."

Speaking at last Tuesday's meeting, Mr Grewal said: "They (RoSPA) highlighted the fact that the feet of the equipment had eroded, rendering the equipment beyond economic repair, hence this became a health and safety issue.

"We're very aware of the importance playgrounds have to the local community. I can assure you that if possible it (work to restore the playground) will be done before March."

However, ward councillor Gerald McGregor said he was still unhappy the equipment was removed in the first place.

"The removal was done without the approval of ward councillors and with very little consultation," he added. "On doing research, we discovered the necessary repair work wasn't as expensive and uneconomic as some of the officers maintained. I have sever concerns about the process here."