Dangerous Seesaw in Mill Dam Park - Correspondence with SLDC

The removal of the children's pottery from inside the park for safety reasons has highlighted concerns of parents to a far more dangerous hazard that has not received the instant response given to the 'dangerous' pottery.

There is a bizarre contrast :

Totally safe pottery on the fence - removed within a week of being reported.
Dangerous seesaw equipment that has caused severe accidents, reported a year ago after having been highlighted in 2010 - still no action after a year though a solution has been agreed. It is promised that it will be implemented - eventually.

The rapid action in one case pours salt on the wound of inaction in the the with the other.

Why is the seesaw dangerous: because it totally inappropriate. It is the only piece of equipment designed for the 8-14 age group in a park which is nearly always used by children under 6. This older age group only very rarely visit Mill Dam Park. What happens is that very young children are drawn to use it because it is there and cannot cope because it is not designed for their age. Their feet cannot reach the ground resulting is many dangerous situations

Several accidents using the seesaw have happened and some reported to SLDC, the simple solution by raising the ground level has been discussed but not implemented. Time and time again SLDC has not taken action though they agree this solution is a good one. The seesaw is dangerous because it is designed for the wrong age group. Putting this equipment in this park is totally inappropriate, the park has been badly designed.

It is this inconsistency that makes parents furious.

Something that gave great pleasure and was well known to SLDC has been removed. Something that has actually caused accidents is there with no warnings even.

Here are copies of the emails with SLDC relevant to the alterations to the height of the Seesaw, first raised as far back as April 2010 with copies to Councillors.

Accident on Seesaw reported  06 August 2012 15:00
 Peter Clarke states that the Seesaw is for 8 to 14 year olds and complies with  regulations. A solution other than the complete removal of the seesaw is agreed but still waiting for implementation.

April 2010 from Tony Naylor:

Dear Mr Dellow,
Thank you for keeping me informed. I was unaware that the posts were being taken down, certainly there were no instructions issued to do this.

At present I am still tied up with commissioning the new grounds maintenance contract, but will catch up with you early next month once matters have settled down to routine at this end.

Regards
Tony Naylor


-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: 05- Apr- 10 11:35
To: Naylor, Tony
Cc: Hodgson,Colin; injanhan@tiscali.co.uk; J PICKTHALL
Subject: Mill Dam Playground


Tony Naylor,

An email to keep you informed about what is happening.

Since our meeting in the park six weeks ago, a considerable amount of 
work has been done in freeing up several of the beds from shrub and 
hedge roots.

Compost and bone meal has been added and seeds sown - poppies - in one 
of the beds.

The Tulip bulbs, put in in January, are showing up well on the left 
side of the park.

We have a large number of plants as seedlings being raised in our 
greenhouse which will provide bedding plants in about two week's time.

A display of ceramic butterflies, on the right fence, was featured in 
the Evening mail on March 16th. This is about to be doubled in number 
with items made by the group in the past fortnight.

We are aiming at having a bank of sweet peas growing up the right hand 
fence. The plants for these are coming on well in the greenhouse 
shortly to be planted up into larger pots.

We now have about ten people actively involved in the park work but it 
will take some time before a cohesive group is formed. the whole 
concept of getting involved is new to people. We hope to build on the 
work we have done and when people start to see the rewards of their 
involvement, I'm sure things will take off.

We have been a little disappointed not to have the quick response in 
repairs that we got when Peter Clark, your engineer attended Lightburn.

We are inclined to repair the park bench ourselves rather than wait 
any longer.

We were very concerned to see the posts for the Mill Dam notice sawn 
of at the base just at the time we were going to put up a notice 
ourselves.

These appears to be a retrograde step; What is the thinking here?

For the future:

1. What can you supply us with? How about:

a) ties for the trees
b) repair of the latches to the gates
c) compost to enrich the starved soil
d) two picnic tables
e) repairs to the existing posts around the park

2. Changes to equipment

It is early days but everyone asked - about twenty - all agree that:

a) the seesaw is too high as children can't put their feet on the ground

b) the chain bridge should be replaced with a more adventurous 
climbing frame to suit somewhat more adventurous children similar to 
the one shown here:

http://www.home-front.co.uk/category_commercial/superclimber.htm

Please note the detail design has not been discussed here.

c) something to be done with the mound where there was a long slide - 
to be discussed.

We look forward to hearing from you and from your engineer as to 
repairs and look forward to the kind of response that you gave us at 
Lightburn Park.

Sincerely

Geoff Dellow

    From:     Peter Clarke
    Subject:     RE: The Seesaw in Mill Dam Park
    Date:     7 August 2012 12:14:37 GMT+01:00
    To:     Geoff Dellow
    Cc:     Tony Naylor


Geoff
This would appear to be an unfortunate accident.
I have checked the details for this seesaw and it has been installed to the manufacturers instructions.

This seesaw is designed for the age range 8 – 14 years.
Maximum height of the seat at full extent can be up to 1500mm high
Ground clearance under the seats is to be greater than 230mm to prevent foot entrapment

Peter Clarke
Recreation Engineer
07977 283904

From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: 06 August 2012 15:00
To: Clarke, Peter
Cc: Christine Atkinson
Subject: The Seesaw in Mill Dam Park

Peter,

Have you been made aware of the problems we experience with this Seesaw?

In the past I have heard that some children have received some severe injuries from falling off this equipment, one I believe was a broken collar bone. However I never had first hand evidence.

Last Thursday, 2nd August, a five year old badly injured himself with a fall from the seesaw and was taken to Furness General hospital where it was found that he had broken his arm. His name was Ewan Clarke son of Clare and Simon Clarke of Meadowsweet, Union Lane, Ulverston LA12 7BU, who have approved my passing on this information.

Their email is Simon and Clare Clarke should you wish to find out the exact circumstances of the accident.

All that use the park agree that this equipment is far too high for the children it is intended to serve. They cannot get their feet anywhere near the ground , it is so high. It is really only suitable for adults or children of a height of five feet minimum.

I suggest there is a relatively simple solution and that is to raise the ground level substantially however you are best to judge whether this is easier than reducing the height of the central figure.

Could you put in place plans to rectify the problem which I'm sure you will agree needs a speedy solution?

If the SLDC is short of cash then we would place this work at a higher priority than any other , even the need for improved fencing, previously discussed.

Please let me know your reaction to this information when you have had chance to investigate.

Best wishes

Geoff
 
P1030824.JPG

    From:     Peter Clarke
    Subject:     Re: The Seesaw in Mill Dam Park
    Date:     15 August 2012 10:40:27 GMT+01:00
    To:     Geoff Dellow
    Cc:     Tony Naylor
Geoff
I am not mistaken with my original response.

The seesaw is intended for 8 - 14 year age range.
If parents are putting younger children on the seesaw then that is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.

The seesaw cannot be lowered as it would fail to meet necessary safety requirements.

Peter

From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 10:17 AM
To: Clarke, Peter
Subject: Re: The Seesaw in Mill Dam Park

Thank you Peter for this information.

I have now consulted many users of the park and they are all agreed on the following points:

1. You are mistaken if you think that the over eight year old children use the seesaw.
In fact 95% percent of the children who use  the equipment in the park are under eight, the majority being under five who come with their parents. People now come from considerable distances to use the park because it is suitable for underage five children. This is because:

a) the park is relatively small with no room for ball games
b) the equipment other than the seesaw is designed and readily used by the under fives. (You will be aware that the swings are those that have a bucket for the very young rather than the more traditional seat.)
c) the provision of picnic tables and the flowering borders attract adults who come to enjoy the beauty of the park with its pottery and flowers. Furthermore it is a great place for parents and grandparents accompanying the children  to socialise:  there being occasionally as many as ten families with their children at one time.
d) on the very rare occasion that  the seesaw is in fact used by eight year olds and above, it is not as a seesaw but as a challenging piece of equipment to try to balance while walking the length from one seat to the other. I suspect that seesaws are not an attractive piece of play equipment with this age group when alternative types of equipment are available.
2. They would be like the height of the seesaw reduced so that is less dangerous when a parent at one end tries to use it with an under five year old whose feet are way above the ground on the other end.

I hope you will be convinced by the above reasoning and will proceed to reduce the height of the seesaw as soon as possible.

As I said before , if the SLDC is short of funds we will tackle a project like the fencing on the front of the park which is well within our capabilities without your assistance ( we have very good ready cut timber taken from the Sheltered Housing fence including quite a lot of very good pitch pine .

Geoff

Note I am copying in the approximately forty families who are part and members of our organisation, The BUGS whose emblem is a lady bird and can be seen all over Ulverston outside the houses of those that participate. Members are welcome to reply to me if they have any comments on the above.





P1030824.JPG
 
 Helen
Only thing sldc can do is to remove the seesaw but we do not have available funds for new equipment.

Before removal we would have to consult with councillors etc

Peter

From: Helen McKeown [mailto:helenmmckeown@btinternet.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 10:43 AM
To: Geoff Dellow
Cc: Clarke, Peter
Subject: Re: The Seesaw in Mill Dam Park

Hi Geoff,
I would like to add that my 9 year old has difficulty using the see-saw and when I have tried to use it with him, or my daughter who is 6, I can hardly touchy the ground (I'm 5'5"). Also, the park does not really attract the age group 8-14 the main age groups being up to 8 year old as the majority of equipment is aimed at this age group.

Kind regards
Helen McKeown




From:     Peter Clarke
    Subject:     Re: Bark Chippings
    Date:     17 August 2012 07:48:41 GMT+01:00
    To:     Geoff Dellow
    Cc:     Tony Naylor
We are not putting woodchips or bark down as this compacts and would continually require replenishing.
I am looking into the option of soil and turf.

Peter

----- Original Message -----
From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 06:33 AM
To: Clarke, Peter
Subject: Bark Chippings

Would this stuff be suitable for the park?

http://www.turfandstuff.com/product/315/3/play_grade_new_woodchip_2_5_m_sup3_br_i_font_color_red_10_off_i_font/cae08051e9500fc93ed40d7747160238

Geoff

Geoff
I am definitely thinking soil & grass but I am waiting until children
have gone back to school.

I have contractors arranged to carry out soil & turf improvements at
various locations throughout the district & this site has been added to
their list so bear with me & the site will be altered during September.

Peter Clarke
Recreation Engineer
07977 283904

-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: 23 August 2012 04:20
To: Clarke, Peter
Subject: Seesaw

Peter,

What's your present thinking ?

You recommend the use of soil and grass.

How about if we:

Remove the rubber 'matting' and grass.

Use  the soil off the adjacent mound which serves little purpose and

On reflection this is going backwards - so it would be better to
barrowload soil in.

put the matting and grass back.

Otherwise we use Bark Chippings and keep topping up with them.

Do you want to look the other way while we just do it?

What help can you realistically offer?

Your advice is invaluable though.

Geoff

Good Morning Geoff
Please see the message from NPS the council maintenance group.
Please advise if you wish to keep the ornaments and if so when could they be removed?

Thanks
Peter

From: Naylor, Tony
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2012 10:07 AM
To: Clarke, Peter
Subject: FW: Mill Dam/Pound Playground

Peter
Can you contact Mr Dellow?
Thanks
Tony

From: Mason, Andrew [mailto:Andrew.Mason@nps.co.uk]
Sent: 30 November 2012 16:44
To: Naylor, Tony
Subject: Mill Dam/Pound Playground

Tony
Do you know anything about the pot/clay ornaments fixed to the fence along the side of Pound Playground/Mill Dam (see attached pic)? We are looking to renew the fence so they would need removing if they are to be retained (and presumably re-fixed on completion).
Cheers
Andrew

Geoff
Finally got the job done.

On another matter –
The soil in the compound which was to be used for flower beds.
We are intending to utilise this to raise the level of the ground under the seesaw as funds are tight until April we have no other means of progressing the seesaw problem at the moment.

Peter Clarke
Recreation Engineer
07977 283904

From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: 07 January 2013 10:04
To: Clarke, Peter
Subject: Mill Dam Park

Thanks Peter, for two great stretches of fencing. Paul Bennett did a great job.

See http://youtu.be/1tZ1b3gQEqo

Geoff

Geoff
Soil for seesaw –  we have no funds until April when new budgets are available so that particular task will have to wait a little bit longer I’m afraid but as you point out the seesaw will not be used much until then.

Regarding constituted group – I have forwarded this to Tony Naylor for his response as I cannot make those decisions in my position.

Peter Clarke
Recreation Engineer
07977 283904

From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: 07 January 2013 15:18
To: Clarke, Peter
Subject: Re: Mill Dam Park

See below please:
On 7 Jan 2013, at 10:22, Clarke, Peter wrote:


Geoff
Finally got the job done.

Yes and a great solution - thanks. Our next event will be having a get together of parents and children to put the pottery back up. We've already put some sweet pea plants in, right up next to the new fence!


On another matter –
The soil in the compound which was to be used for flower beds.
We are intending to utilise this to raise the level of the ground under the seesaw as funds are tight until April we have no other means of progressing the seesaw problem at the moment.

Please can we hang on to the compost as it took a lot of effort to get it where it is. I'm not sure we could get the help to shift compost again for a while in the present lack of enthusiasm for helping: people seem to be drawing their horns in - which is why the fence will be such a boost.  We're using the compost steadily , bit by bit, all over the park: it's a great resource. I'm hoping that it will be the basis for taming the pound area which is a valuable asset doing nothing at present.

We'd be happy waiting till after April if we could keep the compost - after all the See Saw won't get used much before then - and people have got used to coping with it as it now is.

However, are you really saying that you are even doubtful of funding in April for soil for the See Saw ? You appear to have access to the labour for the project.

Incidentally we understand that communication with SLDC will be greatly helped if we become a constituted group. Do you agree?


Geoff

Peter Clarke
Recreation Engineer


From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: 07 January 2013 10:04
To: Clarke, Peter
Subject: Mill Dam Park

Thanks Peter, for two great stretches of fencing. Paul Bennett did a great job.

See http://youtu.be/1tZ1b3gQEqo

Geoff

_________________
Geoff
Did you receive the message regarding picnic table which requires bolts re securing

Peter

----- Original Message -----
From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 05:31 PM
Subject: Mill Dam Park

Work continues on the park.

Now that we have the new fence we have planted our first lot of sweet peas snuggling up against it, the first lot from our green house. The rest - 70 of them - are gaining a head start under the shelter of the green house.

We're aiming to achieve a dazzling display on and above this new fence .

The bulbs we put in during the autumn are looking good now.

The perennials that Jan gave us during the autumn should be starting to poke their heads above ground.

We've given them a dusting of fish and bone meal to get them going!

If you 'd like to get involved in this rewarding activity let me know. We try to work there every Sunday at 10 till 11am

The next job is to put the pottery back up on our new fence.

Geoff

Geoff
I thought our last discussion was that users had understood that the seesaw is correctly installed.
But if you still require ground underneath raising then I will see what can be done.
Might not happen until late june or early july as we are busy with other projects well into june at the moment

Peter

----- Original Message -----
From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: Friday, May 03, 2013 07:36 AM
To: Clarke, Peter
Subject: Seesaw in Mill Dam

Hi Peter,

You mentioned that you'd be able to fund the raising of the ground around the seesaw (so as the reduce it's height above the ground) in May.

Is that still on track?

Geoff
Geoff
I am afraid that the ground under the seesaw will not be raised until perhaps August or September due to other ongoing works and holidays but it will happen

Peter Clarke
Recreation Engineer
South Lakeland dc
07977 283904

-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: 05 June 2013 09:48
To: Clarke, Peter
Subject: Work in Mill Dam Park




Hi Peter,

What glorious weather we are having.

We have repaired the picnic table that was damaged and put it back in the park.

We plan an activity day this Sunday when we will put the pottery back on the fence and plant new bedding plants in. The sweet peas are doing well.

What is the status of raising the ground level under the Seesaw ?

Geoff
Geoff
It is fine with me if you wish to trim the timber

Thanks
Peter