The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust has locked the playground on the Woodland estate, off Bellhouse Way / Sherringham Drive. The park was closed after the slide had recently been vandalised and graffiti had been sprayed on the benches.
Gates locked
It is very disappointing that the mindless actions of a minority spoils things for everyone else.
Woodlands estate
Cllr Stephen Fenton (Dringhouses & Woodthorpe) and Cllr Sheena Jackson (Westfield) met with a Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust officer last week for a walkabout on the Woodlands estate, which straddles the two wards.
Defective bins
Stephen and Sheena were keen to raise issues of concerns to residents, including:
• Broken salt bins
• Overgrown signs
• Areas in need of a deep sweep
Overgrown signs
Stephen commented:
“It was good to be able to spend some time with a JRHT officer to discuss issues of concern, and we were pleased to learn that monthly estate walkabouts are now planned.
As ward councillors, we want to work with JRHT to make the area a clean and safe place for people to live.”
Improved sweeping needed
Woodlands playground refurbished
Hedges next to cycle path being trimmed back
Workers were today putting the finishing touches to the refurbished Woodlands play area on Teal Drive/Bellhouse Way.
Hedges area being cut and all the safety surfaces have been renewed.
Children are likely to attend an “opening” later in the week.
Full marks to Rowntrees for talking to local residents about the future of the playground which had been locked closed for over 12 months.
NB. Part of the overgrown hedge blocking the cycle path has also now been cut back.
87% of residents saythat they would like to see the Woodlands play area off Bellhouse Way reopened at least during day light hours at weekends.
The equipment has been unavailable for several months now because of health and safety fears.
However many residents have pointed out that young children trying to climb the 2 metre high railings, which surround the play area, are probably at greater risk
The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust has now responded to the local Residents Association promising that – following some minor works – the area will be reopened within a couple of weeks.
Elsewhere in the Woodlands estate, survey respondents were critical of the mowing arrangements for verges. They had been left uncut for so long that, after cutting, the area resembled a hayfield.
A site meeting to discuss the problem has taken place.
The Trust also plan to do some maintenance work on their shrub beds.
The playground, with new equipment, is on the Woodlands Estate which is managed by Joseph Rowntree Housing.
Local residents have approached the Association to seek their support in getting answers and most importantly getting the play area used again.
Shirley Gumley, Chairman of the Foxwood Residents Association, said
” It is a great pity that this play area has been locked for so long. There are lots of young children in the area who would appreciate a secure place to play and residents are feeling frustrated at the lack of communication from Joseph Rowntree on this issue.
If there is a reason why the area cannot be used then tell us rather than leaving everyone guessing”
A door to door survey on the issue is currently being undertaken in the area.