Several residents have also contacted me regarding the condition of the play areas. I’ve engaged in some correspondence to get a clearer picture of the situation and have raised additional questions along the way.

 

Question: I noted that some pieces of equipment are currently missing.

Response: In addition to those, the timber swing set is nearing the end of its serviceable life (it was refurbished in 2018/19 at a cost of around £30k). They hope to replace the swings, but it's too early to confirm. They are working on identifying funding and will update me as soon as possible.

 

Question: Obviously, we can see that a mound is replacing the rotten timber wall. While I appreciate that the area will be seeded and will see growth in time, I questioned whether a perimeter fence will be installed. I raised this as a potential concern, as youngsters might drift out of the park towards the river if it is not fully enclosed.

Response: They will continue to monitor the situation. The new seeded wildflower bund (with just poppies in the first year, followed by perennials from the second year onwards) will create a new dimension of informal play—from sitting and chatting to climbing up and rolling down. They believe that a hard structure like a fence could pose a potential hazard to both children and maintenance machinery.

 

Formerly known as "Dragon Park"—a fitting coincidence, considering that the What3Words address for this location is ///type.finely.dragon!

Question: I raised a concern about the two pieces of equipment that are currently 'spring-only'. I am aware that running repairs have been done to the main play unit over the last few months.

Response: The team has removed the tops of the springers and installed temporary covers to ensure they are safe. They were working on manufacturing new tops from sheet material, using the old ones as templates. The new fish-themed springers were installed on 16/08/24.

 

 

Question: The bulk of equipment was removed in June 2023. Can you provide more details about the play strategy being explored for Riverside Park? What possibilities are being considered, and what is the expected timeline for any developments?

Response: Apologies, but it’s a bit early to provide details, and given the importance of Riverside Park, we want to ensure we provide the best possible play provision over the coming decades. Their input is just a small part of a larger team effort, and there will be ongoing dialogue with management to keep you updated. We are in the very early stages of exploring a play strategy for Riverside Park and will happily keep you informed.

 

Question: No specific question, just wondering what's going on:

Response: An additional multi-unit and overhead rotator were added in 2022/23, with additional timber play structures added in 2023/24. A new informal timber play spider, made from hardwood timber harvested from SCC trees across the city that needed to be removed for health and safety reasons, was installed on 13/08/24.

 

Question: No specific question, as clearly recently installed:

Response: The play area was installed in 2022/23 and remains very popular. SCC Landscapes installed the new open space, outdoor gym, and play area for the SCC estate regeneration team a couple of years ago, funded by a grant from Homes England.

 

Question: No specific question, but those helicopters bring back memories from my youth!

Response: The swings and helicopter are older but still very serviceable, alongside a newer multi-unit.

 

Question: The equipment is quite dated, and I thought it was scheduled for a full replacement at some stage. What’s the latest update?

Response: A provisional plan has been attached, but it's not ready for sharing at the moment. We are working through the budgets to see if we can value-engineer it further to provide additional items. We’re just finalizing the last procedures before delivery. Lead times, once the order is placed, tend to be 12-16 weeks.