More damage to play equipment at Coopers Meadow

{Play}We have repaired the basket swing in Coopers Meadow play area following damage as a result of misuse of the equipment.

a young boy is sitting on a flat mesh swing, smiling while an older man stands behind

We are sorry to report that the basket swing in the play area at Cooper's Meadow was damaged on Friday, 27 May for the second time this year.  Happily this time it was only out of action over the weekend and has now been repaired.

We removed the basket swing in January because the ropes – which have a metal core – had been deliberately cut on both sides.  It took a long time for our suppliers to obtain replacement ropes but, after nearly four months our team replaced the basket swing on the afternoon of Friday, 20 May.

It was back up for just one week before we had to remove it again.  This time it was broken by misuse rather than deliberate criminal damage but the outcome was the same: no swing.  All play equipment is designed and tested to take an amount of excess weight and boisterous play, however the swings in Coopers Meadow are not designed to carry very large groups at once for sustained periods of time.

Earlier this year the single seat toddler swing was damaged due to children standing on it in groups, resulting in the bars buckling and rendering it unusable.

The financial cost to the taxpayer this year as a result of damage in Coopers Meadow play area is now close to £1,000.  This doesn’t take account of the cost to disappointed families when their children can't enjoy this playground.

We are very sorry to say that the only solution we can see to avoid further damage, at least as a temporary measure, is to change the rules about who can use this play equipment.  At the moment the sign reads that the play equipment is for those aged 12 and under. This will shortly be changed to 10 and under – effectively excluding anyone older than primary school children. 

Parents, we're very sorry that the options for your little ones have been reduced. The basket swing is designed to be accessible to children with all abilities, so there is a particularly harsh impact on families whose children are unable to enjoy the whole range of our play equipment when it is out of service.  Please make your children aware of the damage that could result from careless, inappropriate play, and the disappointment this will mean for younger siblings and other families. 

Anyone with information should contact Wiltshire Police via 101 quoting reference 54220055839.

a swing seat with bent barsfrayed ropes-broken-basket-swing lying on its sidea child sits on a rope mesh swing, an older man stands behind smiling

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