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Residents at Sholden Fields claim the play park is unsafe

00:01, 16 September 2016

A play park at a new housing development remains unfinished with a measly three pieces of equipment – despite 200 homes being finished and most sold.

Residents claim the “basic” play area at Sholden Fields is a safety hazard, with uneven ground and rocks left behind.

Paul Terrey, 46, moved to the development last August with his wife, Polly, 38, and his two children George, eight, and Albert, two.

Andrew Bull Paul Terrey, George Terrey, Matthew Toogod and Kai Camileri all aged eight.
Andrew Bull Paul Terrey, George Terrey, Matthew Toogod and Kai Camileri all aged eight.

The Metropolitan Police worker said: “There are 200 houses with loads of children and no one wants to play there.

“We are constantly watching them, concerned they are going to fall and hurt themselves. I just think they haven’t listened to us.”

A spokesman for the developer, Ward Homes said the company takes safety very seriously.

But Mr Terrey claims the area, which was formerly a field and is very uneven, has not been levelled properly.

Although rubber matting has been put down for safety, there is a 2in drop to the ground where the matting ends, making it unsafe for small children, he claimed.

George Terrey, Matthew Toogod and Kai Camileri all aged eight
George Terrey, Matthew Toogod and Kai Camileri all aged eight

He added: “They tell us it’s finished but we have asked for the rocks to be cleared and this wasn’t done. That was really bad.”

The play area has only three items of equipment and residents claim they were told by Ward Homes that was all that would be placed there.

A spokesman has since told the Mercury that the construction of the play area is not finished.

Ward Homes spokesman Laura Downton said: “Construction of the play area at Sholden Fields is ongoing, with further play equipment yet to be installed.

“Due to the recent warm weather making the ground surface dry the landscaping is not yet complete but we hope to finish this very soon.

“We take health and safety very seriously and all play equipment at Sholden Fields complies with RoSPA’s Play Safety agreed standard.”

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