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Original poster

Where are all the swings?

27 replies

FuckingFlumps · 19/09/2021 10:49

At the start of lockdown when parks were closed and padlocked the council here and I'm sure in many other places also took away some of the play equipment most notably swings.

DS adores swings and the closest park to us still has theirs but it was initially locked up so I suppose there was no need to remove them. However I've been to 3 parks we don't normally visit this week and 2 were still missing every other swing and at one they were all MIA.

Has anyone else still got missing swings despite many things returning to normal and it now being known the risk of transmission from a swing is practically 0? I've emailed our local council but had no reply yet as to the reason and am wondering if it's still quite common elsewhere?

OP posts:
AGreenerShadeofKale · 19/09/2021 10:50

No our play park has been refurbished.
Ask your councillor.

catchyjem · 19/09/2021 10:53

That's weird. I'd ask your council too. We sometimes have missing swings but only because the teenagers vandalise them. It takes several weeks to sort usually.

Bobholll · 19/09/2021 10:55

It’s a mix here. Most have been reinstated and are normal but there are one or two parks where they’ve left it with one missing between each one. It was always a really odd decision.. socially distance on the swings but go wild clambering over each other on the climbing frame & slide 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

herecomesthsun · 19/09/2021 10:55

We have all the swings, including a big circular swing that the kids can all pile on together

covetingthepreciousthings · 19/09/2021 10:56

Swings weren't removed here.. how odd!

itsgettingwierd · 19/09/2021 10:57

None of the swings in any of the 10 parks within 3 miles of me were removed. Not even every other one Confused

I'm not even sure they were all locked up as I didn't look as they were closed (plus ds is too old now so only see them as we pass).

Original poster
FuckingFlumps · 19/09/2021 11:00

It was always a really odd decision.. socially distance on the swings but go wild clambering over each other on the climbing frame & slide 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

Yeah I never actually ever understood the logic behind the decision either but I'm even more confused that these parks still don't have the swings back after all this time.

I appreciate its not an urgent problem but it's been a while an dyoud have thought they would have gotten round to it for the summer holidays.

Am pleased to see many poster have swings though I'd not really thought about parks not having them until this week when it felt like once I'd noticed it at one park I couldn't stop noticing it. Grin

OP posts:
Princesspickle777 · 19/09/2021 11:02

All ours were returned month ago. Is there a local councillor you can contact to ask?

Princesspickle777 · 19/09/2021 11:03

Posted too soon. Ours are quite active on Facebook on local community pages.

TinaWeymouthsBass · 19/09/2021 11:04

Our park has two areas one for the smaller children and one for the teenagers with gym type equipment, zip wires and big basket type swings. The area for the little ones was left open but the older kids area was dismantled and has never been put back so the teenagers just sit on the grass smoking now.
There's been a local campaign to have in reinstalled but all the council say is well we can't because of COVID 🤯

AGreenerShadeofKale · 19/09/2021 11:04

If you contact your local councillor you will often find they can get a response from council officials more readilly.

Original poster
FuckingFlumps · 19/09/2021 11:07

@Princesspickle777

Posted too soon. Ours are quite active on Facebook on local community pages.
Can't seem to see any of ours on local social media but I have emailed, am wondering what their replies will be as I don't see why it's taken so long to get them back as they took them away quickly enough.
OP posts:
Original poster
FuckingFlumps · 19/09/2021 11:08

@TinaWeymouthsBass

Our park has two areas one for the smaller children and one for the teenagers with gym type equipment, zip wires and big basket type swings. The area for the little ones was left open but the older kids area was dismantled and has never been put back so the teenagers just sit on the grass smoking now. There's been a local campaign to have in reinstalled but all the council say is well we can't because of COVID 🤯
That's appalling. Sad

Am sure the very same councillors will be soon complaining the teens are hanging around causing trouble totally ignoring the fact they have no place to go. Hmm

OP posts:
HumbugWhale · 19/09/2021 11:11

@Bobholll

It’s a mix here. Most have been reinstated and are normal but there are one or two parks where they’ve left it with one missing between each one. It was always a really odd decision.. socially distance on the swings but go wild clambering over each other on the climbing frame & slide 🤷🏼‍♀️😂
This drives me mad - I have twins and it makes it so much harder to push the swings if they are spaced out! Taking it in turns doesn't always go down very well with them Grin Weirdly one park near us kept the baby swings but got rid of the grown-up swings completely which seems totally illogical as presumably it is the baby swings where there are more likely to be adults pushing so more issue with distancing.
TinaWeymouthsBass · 19/09/2021 11:11

@FuckingFlumps
Yes quite the teenagers also migrate to the other play area and sit on the swings and slides whilst smoking and snogging (or whatever teens do now days ) it's crazy!

itsgettingwierd · 19/09/2021 11:17

For anyone who gets the answer "because of covid" currently try what I did and reply "oh ok, sorry to be a little dense but could you explain what covid restriction that is for?".

Very hard to answer when there actually aren't any restrictions anymore WinkGrin

Cornettoninja · 19/09/2021 11:20

I live on a county border (live in one, dd’s school and my work in another) and like everyone else, have made full use of local outdoor spaces and playgrounds over the last eighteen months. Playgrounds were only closed in the first lockdown and have been busy since. I’d conclude it’s a problem at a local level if you’re still finding them restricted.

jumpbounce · 19/09/2021 11:47

We have always had a swing missing between each swing in recent years to avoid them swinging side to side and bumping into one another?
Most of the swing sets in the area were 3 swings per set but in recent years the middle one has been removed and its now 2 swings per set. In newer parks they have been built with a space between each swing.

Original poster
FuckingFlumps · 19/09/2021 11:54

@jumpbounce

We have always had a swing missing between each swing in recent years to avoid them swinging side to side and bumping into one another? Most of the swing sets in the area were 3 swings per set but in recent years the middle one has been removed and its now 2 swings per set. In newer parks they have been built with a space between each swing.
How odd. I don't think bumping into each other has ever been a huge problem has it, certainly not enough of a problem to removed every other swing or leave bug gaps.

I’d conclude it’s a problem at a local level if you’re still finding them restricted.

Oh its definitely a local problem and they are being incredibly slow in reinstating them for some reason. I was just hoping to see that other areas had put them back as when they reply I am fully expecting a 'cause covid' blanket nonsense excuse so knowing other areas are being more pragmatic will hopefully aid my argument in getting them put back ASAP. Smile

OP posts:
Cornettoninja · 19/09/2021 11:56

Have you tried getting your local MP involved @FuckingFlumps?

Original poster
FuckingFlumps · 19/09/2021 12:04

@Cornettoninja

Have you tried getting your local MP involved *@FuckingFlumps*?
I doubt our local mps would worry their pretty little heads about something so trivial they all have lots of busy work to do and very inflated egos, they are much to important to talk to us mere common folk. Hmm

It's certainly not a terrible idea to email them but I'm dubious of getting a response. Grin

OP posts:
Elieza · 19/09/2021 12:12

Childhood obesity (and mental health issues like fear of being outside after over a year covid lockdowns) is a big issue these days so I’d expect your council, local councillor or mp to take this issue seriously if you mention those things and how we need play parks restored to normal to encourage normal childhood behaviour and development and get overweight children healthier through exercise.

If you get no joy call the local news paper and see if they can write a story. Or do something on social media (I don’t use so don’t know about that)!

Cornettoninja · 19/09/2021 12:15

It’s worth a go @FuckingFlumps. Ime MP’s quite like an ‘easy’ win. Cc’ing emails to all and sundry and Twitter are usually good ways to get people moving.

OliveTree75 · 19/09/2021 12:16

No we have had a brand new park open! Our other main park is currently closed and being refurbished as it wasnt maintained properly during the last 18 months so they've had to close it.

AGreenerShadeofKale · 19/09/2021 13:27

Yes mention childhood obesity, lack of exercise, and as regards covid spread outdoor socialising still being far lower risk than indoor