Play area closure on safety grounds

Published by webmaster for Chesterfield Borough Council in Communities

The children's play area near the café in Queen's Park will be closed for part of three days next week, when a county cricket match will take place in the park.

Derbyshire 2nd XI take on Gloucestershire 2nd XI from Wednesday to Friday, August 30 - September 1, inclusive.
There are no admission charges to the game.
Park facilities including the train, older children's play area, café and amenity grass areas will be available to all visitors. The only facilities not available will be the toddlers' play area and the boating, which has been temporarily suspended because of poisonous green algae in the lake.

The play area near the park's café/gelateria is being closed on Health and Safety grounds. Cllr David Stone, the Borough's Lead Member for Leisure, explained: "There is a safety fence between the cricket ground and the toddler's play area, but there remains the chance that a big hit could clear the fence and put the ball into the play area.

"We are not prepared to take the chance of that happening and a young child being hit.
"We are sorry that we have to close the play area, but hope that parents understand why we have made this decision."
The play area will be open each day before the start of cricket play, at 10.30am, and after the close of play at around 6pm.

* The Borough Council is investigating the possibility of altering the way the safety netting is deployed next season so that the toddlers' play area can remain open while cricket is being played.

END

Press release issued 25th August 2006