Work has started to install a new fence around a children’s playpark near a river more than two years after it first opened.

Some parents had raised safety concerns about the lack of fencing at Severn Play Park, located between Ysgol Calon y Dderwen and Hafan yr Afon, given that the open plan layout of the play area is metres away from the river and off-lead dogs are known to enter the playground while children are playing.

Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council said “all effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum” with the new £23,000 fencing expected to be completed within two weeks after work started on Monday (April 17).

“We hope to keep the park open in some capacity throughout the two-week period but there may be times when the park may be closed off,” a town council spokesperson said.

“We encourage people to take care whilst in the area given the presence of heavy plant etc on site."

County Times: The new fencing around the play park.The new fencing around the play park. (Image: Gavin Grosvenor/Powys County Times)

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    County councillor for Newtown East, Joy Jones, described the development as “extremely good news”.

    “I have been working with the town council for this change for a long time,” Cllr Jones said. “It will give some parents peace of mind that their children are safe.”

    One local mum said: “About time how it was ever allowed to be built next to the river without a fence astounds me.

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    Another told the town council: “Hope you will make it clear that dogs are not welcome in a designated area for children. For some children the presence of dogs running all over the play area is a terrifying experience.”

    While another mum said: “Such good news I can actually go to the park without having a panic attack before and whilst there about dogs not on leads.”

    The Town Council said it continues to find ways to improve its facilities and listen to feedback from members of the public.

    Operations manager Lee Davies said: "The original playpark was designed to be an open plan layout to link the toddler area to the teen area, with the £180,000 budget at the time all going towards the fantastic castle design that was well received and is still well used to this day. 

    "Feedback from some parents suggested a fence would help them encourage their children to remain within the playpark space and although this fence can never replace appropriate supervision of parents or guardians of the children, it was agreed at a Services Committee meeting to raise the approximately £23,000 to fund a new fence.

    "The fence will use Robinia timber posts, sustainably sourced that is extremely hardwearing and long lasting to match the timber used in the playpark itself, enhancing the overall rustic and natural look to the park.

    "This, along with the multi-use play area or MUGA for short, that is scheduled to be installed in June adjacent to the main playpark in the ‘teen area’ demonstrates the Town Council’s commitment to continue to provide high class facilities as promised in its five-year plan."

     

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