To report this to the council? Hazardous public splash park

[Kimono88]

Yesterday my DP took our DC to a splash area / play sprinklers in a public park. Apparently it was lovely when he was a child but the pictures and video he sent me tell a different story now. Despite being operational it has been massively neglected by the council to the extent it is a health hazard.

There is moss and filth all over the area where the kids play, huge chunks of the rubber flooring had been broken off leaving big holes for the children to trip over and now my DC has come down with an awful stomach which I'm sure isn't a coincidence because of course being little he decided to drink the water as it was being jetted out of the disgusting ground... 😳

DP thought it was fine as there were lots of other kids playing there. I said I wouldn't be surprised if the kids get sick and here we are.

WIBU to make a complaint to the council? It needs to be shut down for maintenance or closed off completely if they don't have the budget/inclination to make it safe.

Not the best picture but one of the only ones showing what I'm referring to about the floor

I would definitely complain. I bet the lovely council offices are not in a state of disrepair. They should be doing annual safety checks or something (anyone on MN actually know what they should be doing?) Sorry your DC are poorly. That's my exact fear from things like manky soft play etc.

It looks like it could do with a good Jetwash!

YANBU to report the flooring which needs cleaning and maintenance.
but YWBU to complain about your DC drinking the water. That’s really on your DH for not stopping them.

Looks like a normal outdoor floor to me?

DS drinking the water is definitely on DP but surely a public space like that should be subject to cleaning and maintenance?

😁 thanks for the laugh

YABU to not mention which one so we can avoid it 🙈

Oh, bollocks, wrong thread.

Wrong thread by any chance?

Yes, was meant to be on a thread in The Litter Tray about cat harnesses I've reported it and asked for it to be removed. Doh.

I know you posted on the wrong thread but I'm sorry about your dog, the part about keeping something of his made me 🥺

💐

Yes I would put in a complaint. It could be a slipping hazard, this happened in a park not far from me.

www.thecomet.net/news/traffic/it-s-a-death-trap-letchworth-family-condemns-avenue-park-5342940

Whenever I’ve been to one of those the water has been chlorinated. Looks like it needs a clean and some repairs. Unfortunately what usually happens if you complain is that the area shuts permanently. If you think it’s dangerous it needs to happen I guess. I wonder if there’s a lottery grant or something that could be applied for

I bet the lovely council offices are not in a state of disrepair.

You've not worked in my last office then

I think you're overreacting.

If lots of people report it will probably just be closed down. Council's can't afford maintenance these days and with their costs hugely increasing with no additional central government funding it is only going to get worse.

We went to one yesterday that charges a small entrance fee (£1 per person, adult or child, for 1hr). As a result it is clean, well maintained and had staff on hand. Also numbers per session are limited. Being a hot sunny day and the number of sessions, they must have brought in at least £1.5k on that day alone. (For the splash park... they have mini golf, trampolines, ice cream stands etc as well)

Sadly I think we are getting to point where these things are luxuries for councils. Too many complaints would lead to closure not maintenance.

Grim 🤢 our local one is jetwashed and scrubbed before it's opened for the season, so is the one by my dad's (different councils).
Definitely complain to the council about the state of it and your DP for allowing kids to drink the water 🤢

Lol at the council offices comment. I worked in a building that had been condemned several years previously, gaffer taped, threadbare carpet, big chunks missing from the floor, awful, tiny toilets, you had to take your own rubbish, bring tea, coffee and mugs.

Terrible pay, huge workload, but now I WFH at least.

Agree it will be closed down, but it sounds like it should be.

Alright, Jeane! Keep your wig on.

I would prefer if they charged £1 like the one the PP described and use the money to maintain the place. I think you should complain as it does not look good but then, they may just close down the park which might not be nice.
my council here is broke and nothing gets maintained. I remember a time when the toilet of a very lovely park was such a mess. Then they started charging 20 pence per group to use it. Since then, that place has always been clean and people can relax in the park knowing they don’t have to run home when their children needs the toilet.

The one near us is a right state but the kids love it. Don’t complain, all they’ll do is shut it down altogether and then all you’ve achieved is preventing kids without gardens and paddling pools accessing something fun. Though in any case I imagine most will be closed soon due to drought. Your DC drinking the water is on you, not the council.