Helensburgh playparks 'disgrace'

Fiona Howard • Published 6 May 2010 11:30 0 Comments

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ANGRY: Lisa Johnstone and Emer Flett who set up the facebook campaign.

HELENSBURGH'S parks are not fit for purpose - and a damning report on the state of play has been made public.

Following the setting up of a campaign on the social networking site Facebook, Helensburgh Community Councillor Darrel Hendrie took up cudgels on behalf of the town's children and compiled a report on the frightful state of Helensburgh's parks and play areas.

At last Thursday's meeting of Helensburgh Community Council, the members were presented with Darrel's dossier of disgrace which catalogues a series of horrors which are forcing local mums to take their children to Balloch and Dumbarton to play.

At Thursday's meeting one local parents told councillors: "I grew up in this town and when I was little the play equipment was old and now my own child is asking to go to play parks in Dumbarton or Balloch. The only decent play area in Helensburgh is in Churchill and that was paid for by the Navy."

And she added: "There is a safe toddlers area in Balloch but here it is very, very dangerous.

"There are not even any toddlers swings. It makes me angry to have to go out of town."

Argyll and Bute Councillor James Robb, who was attending the meeting, said: "I have really got to congratulate Darrel on this report and hope that he has sent it to all the councillors. It is a very, very comprehensive audit of our parks."

He reported that following recent complaints about Hermitage Park Councillor Al Reay had taken up the issue and some repair works have been scheduled but that some equipment needed to be replaced and that would require capital funding.

He said: "We need to keep the pressure on but I will keep you updated on progress."

"I don't think that is enough," said a parent from the audience, "we need a new park."

Community Councillor Sonja Aitken said that the parents in Kirkmichael had been faced with a similar problem in that there were no toddler play facilities and the rest of the play park was run down.

READ THE FULL REPORT IN THIS WEEK'S ADVERTISER

This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 06 May 10

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