Children protest at closed play park (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Children protest at closed play park
10:47am Friday 8th March 2013 in News
CAMPAIGN: Children and parents demonstrate at Masham play park which has been closed by Harrogate Council
A CROWD of disappointed children and parents met at Masham Play Park, on Shooting Holme, on Tuesday to try to draw attention to the fact that it has been closed by Harrogate Borough Council.
The play park had been well used by children, from the very young to older ones, with a basket swing, swings and roundabouts being special favourites.
The very wet weather over recent months, which has caused springs in the area to resurface, together with drainage problems surrounding the play park, have left the ground waterlogged in parts.
Work had been started by Harrogate Borough Council to try to rectify the problem but this has had to be stopped for a number of reasons.
Councillor Andrew Burril explained that the council had considered a number of solutions and put them to the neighbouring landowner.
“We have been working on solutions for this problem for some time and have been working on unblocking and digging out drains. It appears that there are also drains that have collapsed and become root-ridden.
“However, I am meeting people from the borough council next week and have been speaking to Jennifer Love of the council, who is responsible for play park areas, and between us we will try to sort out a solution that is acceptable to both Masham residents and the borough council.
“We have had various proposals, some of which have been rejected, but I will know more after my forthcoming meeting.”
In the past, there was a boating pond in this part of the park, which is at the bottom of a steep slope in a slight bowl in the land, but this was filled in when the current play park was developed. The Shooting Holme, where this is situated, is prone to flooding but normally drains well.
