The Mayor of Ventnor is calling for the Isle of Wight Council to reinstate a popular playground after it was almost entirely ripped out without warning.
An area off North Street in Ventnor is now looking bare after Council staff removed several pieces of play equipment they deemed to be unsafe. Other equipment has been removed in the past.
Stewart Blackmore, Mayor of Ventnor and Councillor for Ventnor East, has said:
“The residents of Ventnor and, in particular, those in Longdown with children, are rightly appalled at the Isle of Wight Council’s seemingly unilateral decision to close parts of the long-established North Street playground without any attempt at public consultation; failing, even, to do the local residents the courtesy of informing their local Ward Councillors or Members of Ventnor Town Council.
“As a local councillor for Ventnor East, I, especially as Mayor, would have expected to be told in advance about this decision. The fact that the IWC council has deemed the equipment defective and/or dangerous is not sufficient reason to not inform my residents that this action was imminent.
“I, therefore, call on the IWC to reinstate the equipment to the benefit of our children and, further, to give us an absolute assurance that this land will net be set aside for redevelopment, as was the case several years ago”.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council has previously said:
“North Street is an IW Council playground. We risk assess all playground equipment regularly and where wear and tear is identified we either repair, if possible, or remove the equipment on safety grounds.
Article continues below this advertisement “Unfortunately, when we recently inspected North Street, the swings were beyond repair and if left, would have posed a risk to users of the play area, so have been removed and will not be replaced.
“The bouncy ride can be fixed and will be back in place as soon as possible”.
Over 550 signatures have now been collected on an online petition.
A public meeting, organised by ‘Save our North Street Playground’, is being held in Ventnor Library tomorrow (Thursday 25th April) at 19:00.
UPDATE @ 13:30 – The Isle of Wight Council have issued a further statement today.
A spokesperson has said:
“The Isle of Wight Council intends for North Street Playground to remain as a public play area, and has no plans to change the use of the site. The council is committed to engaging with Ventnor Town Council on the future management of the site”.
Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Cllr Dave Stewart said:
“The play area at North Street is a valuable facility and we know how important it is for local children. The Isle of Wight Council plans to attend the upcoming public meeting in Ventnor to discuss the future of the site, and I can confirm we’re keen to work with Ventnor Town Council and other interested parties to find a way forward that ensures a sustainable future for the play area”.
Stop activities at Ventnor children’s centre and then take away children’s playground, poor kids!
No wonder kids of today are disruptive and disrespectful they have nothing to do
Equipment made of metal dosen’t deterriorate over night, whoever did the inspections in the past let it get to this point instead of saying it needs repair or replacement, either that or they did and it fell on deaf ears waiting for the day it could be removed and not be replaced.