Forum Topic

Dukes Meadows Playground

The council has decided in its wisdom to create a fence all around Dukes Meadows playground today, Easter Sunday. Surely simply disabling and taping up the equipment in the playground would have sufficed, which should have been done 3 weeks ago. We live opposite and people have not been abusing the fact that the playground is closed - I’ve seen 4 people in there in the last 2 weeks, but if the equipment had been taped  up at the beginning of lockdown there would have been no temptation to go in.This fence building today seems like total overkill and a waste of local authority funds.

Cathy Hamilton ● 2397d16 Comments

I totally agree this is complete madness and a huge waste of our Council Tax money. Money that could have been spent on clearing up the fly tipping which has increased recently.

Raymond Brittan ● 2397d

It’s a poorly though out plan that will only make the area more appealing to teenagers. As you said Cathy, there has been hardly anyone in there. Are they going to wrap up the bike stands between the playground and the cafe? Plenty of people are using them as part of their fitness regimes.

Skye Palmer-Jones ● 2397d

If people must have a static 'fitness regime' they can probably do it equally well at home. They don't have to 'go to the park'. A succession of sweaty people handling the same outdoor play kit or doing step-ups on a park bench must be one of the best ways of passing on the virus.

Peter Evans ● 2397d

Another case of damned if they do, damned if they don't. The cost of the fencing will probably be covered by the funding that is coming to Hounslow from Central Government and not directly from our council taxes.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2397d

Another case of damned if they do, damned if they don't. The cost of the fencing will probably be covered by the funding that is coming to Hounslow from Central Government and not directly from our council taxes.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2397d

The cost is still cost and it is still paid by us the tax payers.

Alex Shpinkov ● 2397d

Are they not using that plastic fencing on a roll that is reusable many times over. Roll out and roll back for another day type

Julian Pavey ● 2397d

Countries with no lockdown are generally doing better than those with lockdown, and children are barely affected by 'COVID-19'; and here in the UK, we're still 18,000 CV deaths short of reaching the 2014/15 Flu death number. Yeah, shut the playground down and fence it off - for the sake of the 'COVID-19' scam.

Michael Brown ● 2397d

The large solid panels the council erected on an open windy site have blown down, who would have thought. I don't think they hit anyone and seem to have blown away from the fence, so haven't demolished it or the new hedge Dukes Meadows Trust planted.Sam "damned if you do damned of you don't" could you, as our local councillor, suggest to whoever is directing this work, they risk assesses the problem and solution and put in place proportionate, sensible measures that don't create a new risk; having a fence blow on top of someone, which could badly injured or kill them.Part of the risk assessment might include the observations posted on here from people living beside the play area that hardly anyone is going in there. Also, as said by another poster, that taping up the swings and wrapping other contact hazards such as the roundabout would be very effective, low cost and little work and wouldn't create a new hazzard.Dukes Meadows Trust has to pay for all repairs and maintenance to both playgrounds, so we would appreciate it if damage was not unnecessarily done that the Trust will need to pay to repair.

Kathleen Healy ● 2396d

They tried taping up the equipment in the playground and the sports equipment in our local park but it was torn down time after time and people were continuing to use the equipment so they have put steel barriers around it all.  Drastic but it has worked.  The cageing is reusable but in short supply at the moment.

Claire Moran ● 2396d

Measures should be appropriate to the site and effective. An open windy area is not somewhere to erect large solid panels.Baffled by the difficulty in adequately tying up swings. If chains were used, kids would need keys to the padlocks or bolt cutters to take them down. Reports from people living beside the play area are that kids are not going in there, certainly not untying the swings.I am concerned that a poor understanding of aerodynamics may lead to the panels being attached to the fence, which will be pulled over, so there will be no fence at all and the Trust will have to pay to replace it.

Kathleen Healy ● 2396d

Maybe as Hounslow Council is having loads of money thrown at it by the Government, you would think that the parks department would liaise with Duke Meadows Trust as they are the organization responsible for paying out for any repairs to the playground.I haven't seen the so called fence erected by the Parks department, but it does sound like its completely inappropriate for such an windy open space. That's why a wire mesh type of fence or open railing are installed around areas that need enclosing, so the wind can blow through the fence and not knock it down. As Kathleen has pointed out, chains and locks could have been used to lock up the equipment and locks installed on the gates. Going by the residents living nearby, hardly anyone is using the playground, so I think the installation of a fence around a fence is a bit over the top.Maybe a Homefield councilor can reassure the trust that any damage done to the playground through erecting a fence around it without consultation, that the LBOH will foot the bill for an repairs needed.Again I haven't seen the fence panels that have been described on this thread, But if they are big enough to fly off and badly injure a member of the public, Lets hope the LBOH insurance is adequate enough to cover such an event, as they installed them and not the trust.

Bernard Allen ● 2396d

Cathy & Kathleen,This is the response from Hounslow Council stefania.horne@hounslow.gov.ukThank you for your email to Councillor Samia Chaudhary.We understand the importance of accessing parks and open spaces for health and wellbeing and with this in mind we continue to keep our parks and spaces open. Unfortunately a number of our facilities, including playgrounds, have been used inconsiderately by some people who are not adhering to government advice and it is with regret that we had to reach the decision to close these facilities. It might not have been apparent, but the initial cordoning off at the playground at Dukes Meadows was broken and our guidance signage destroyed.  With regards to the fencing falling over, we have held the fencing subcontractor responsible and remedial action has been taken on site.We did not take the decision to close our playgrounds lightly but I hope you understand that this is an action that was necessary in order to facilitate social distancing, prevent misuse and ultimately to help prevent further spread of the Coronavirus and save lives. Anyone who can access these facilities can touch play equipment and spread the virus as there is scientific evidence that the virus can stay on surfaces for hours or days.  Most of local authorities are taking the same decisions and some have even decided to close parks altogether. I understand the frustration that this can cause and I apologise for any inconvenience.  It will only be on an interim basis and we very much hope we will be in a position to review this in the not too distant future in line with government guidance. Should you have any further queries or should the playground continue to be misused within the fenced off area please do not hesitate to contact me.kind regards Stefania

Skye Palmer-Jones ● 2395d

Thanks Skye.

Kathleen Healy ● 2394d

Hi SkyeThanks - the councillor seems to have totally misunderstood or ignored the fact that there was no abuse of the playground going on  and simply tying up equipment to disable it would have sufficed and been a fraction of the cost. Saw a young girl appearing from over the fence yesterday evening! Cathy

Cathy Hamilton ● 2394d

Hi Cathy What ever the council put in place would never stop a determining youngster from gaining access to the play ground.When I was.youngster light years ago, they couldn’t  stop me from playing on the large Thames barrages that were moored up opposite the island By Thames lighterage. On the way home from strand school we use to play on them until we saw water entering the bottom of the barge, then we knew it was time to go home, filthy dirty mind to a clip round the lug hole. Great days 😂

Bernard Allen ● 2394d