Playpark plagued by problems is closed again for repairs

Apr 21 2011 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A POPULAR Hamilton children’s playpark has been closed during the holiday period following reports of dangerous equipment.

Parents and children were left annoyed to find that the playpark at Hamilton Palace Grounds was closed at the weekend.

A sign had been placed at the entrance to the park reading “Dangerous equipment – keep off.”

A wooden door had also been placed over the main entrance door, which had already been padlocked, to encourage others to stay away.

One parent, who asked not to be named, said: “I had take my little boy down on Saturday afternoon only to find that the park was closed.

“It was a big disappointment for both of us as he had been looking forward to visiting the park before going back to school on Monday.

“There was this wooden door balancing up against the entrance to the park. I don’t really know why it was there but that alone looked dangerous and that wasn’t even the inside of the park.”

A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “The timber sections of the climbing equipment are suffering from wear and tear and sections require replacement. We have had to close the park until repairs are made as we are unable to isolate this piece of equipment. The play area has a steel perimeter fence surrounding it and a steel gate which is padlocked to prevent access. We have investigated and there is no wooden door against the steel gate.”

The park, which has play equipment, including climbing frames and chutes, attracts youngsters from all over the town.

However, this facility is no stranger to council closures.

In 2009, the park was closed after a nearby sewer had ruptured threatening the health of children who used the playpark.

In 2003 and 2004, the Advertiser reported that the playpark had been temporarily closed following incidents involving rat infestation, with the likely source of the vermin being the nearby Cadzow Burn, sparking anger from parents at the time.