SAFETY inspections are being carried out on parks owned by Wiltshire Council in Melksham after it was disclosed that they had not been independently inspected for ‘several years’.
It was reported in the Melksham News last month that staff at Melksham Town Council were concerned that whilst checks may have been carried out by Wiltshire Council staff on the parks owned by them, annual checks by an independent organisation have not been carried out.
A spokesperson from RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) who would normally carry out the safety inspections, told Melksham News at the time, that whilst there are no specific Acts of Parliament that cover play areas, Wiltshire Council has a ‘duty of care’ to ensure that their play areas are safe – breaches of this ‘duty of care’ could be a criminal offence.
In response, the town council has commissioned inspections that will be carried out by a RoSPA Play Safe Team throughout March – inspections were under way as of 19th March.
The parks in question are at the centre of a deal between Wiltshire Council and the town council that will see the town council take on a seven-year licence to manage them.
Melksham’s mayor, cllr Adrienne Westbrook said, “Melksham Town Council were understandably concerned when they heard that maybe our play parks had not been independently inspected by RoSPA. Before we take on the play areas from Wiltshire we have organised for this to be done. We await their report and will act on what they say.”
Inspections will be carried out on play areas in Dunch Lane, Riverside Drive, Awdry Avenue, the Woody (Queensway), Hazelwood Road, Spring Meadows, Speedwell Close, Dorset Crescent, and Primrose Drive.
Inspections will also be carried out on play areas in Methuen Avenue and Lewington Close, both of which are already owned by the town council and were previously inspected last year in October.
Melksham Town Council’s clerk Linda Roberts said, “The town council is looking forward to having the play areas and open spaces in the town under our control. We will be proactive, utilising our team of caretakers, in ensuring the facilities are maintained to a very high standard.”
Results of the inspections will be published on the Melksham Town Council website when they are received.
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