Our Masters In Brussels Have Spoken Again,

and we jump!

 rules concerning playgrounds have closed this one down,

well not quiet, the motorbike is left, but this report is 2 days old, so by now it will most probably be gone as it is scheduled to be removed, it appears that despite not a single reported injury Durham County Council ruled a small play area on Allergate, in Durham City, must be stripped of play equipment due to safety concerns, so instead of happy smiling kids having fun and learning to take a few knocks in life like a scrapped knee, they can now walk on the grass,


the rules, yes it is not a law, the rules that we are so eager to apply state that as equipment is pre-1998 it does not meet current safety standards, Nigel Dodds, the council’s sport and leisure manager, said the site’s possible redevelopment depended on the results of a play strategy, which was still being drawn up, will the cash strapped council replace the removed slides swings and roundabout? in this time of austerity I doubt it, well the football and rugby posts will have to be removed next, I am sure those and other sports equipment must be pre 1998, still with all fun playgrounds like this one stripped of attractions there may not be a need for a sport and leisure manager as there will be nothing left to manage,


a few local comments, Ruth Chambers, who lives nearby, said the playground had been established for many years and was well-used by families, visitors and a neighbouring nursery, Sarah Loach, of nearby Brass Thill, said: 'people are always talking about kids getting more exercise and then the council takes the play equipment away, it’s a real shame', Ruth Pierce, another resident, added: 'my son keeps asking when the slide’s coming back, we used to come down here quite regularly, it’s great for fresh air, it’s a great walk-through location – people often stopped off here for half an hour', but then when do councils and jobsworths ever listen to the people that pay their wages?