Rot-damaged adventure play park in Derry to re-open soon it is hoped

The replacement of rotting equipment at the St. Columb’s Park adventure area will cost Derry City & Strabane District Council tens of thousands of pounds, it’s been revealed.
By Kevin Mullan
Published 20th Feb 2020, 18:12 BST
At the official opening of the play area in 2009 were, from left, Rosalind Young, Local Strategy Partnership, Caoimhe Duncan, Derry Children’s Commission, Sarah Quilty, chairperson of St. Columb’s Park House, Councillor Gerry MacLochlainn, chair of the Environmental Services Committee, Derry City Council, Eilis Gill, Equality Outreach Co-ordinator, Derry Children’s Commission, and Colin Kennedy, Derry City Council.At the official opening of the play area in 2009 were, from left, Rosalind Young, Local Strategy Partnership, Caoimhe Duncan, Derry Children’s Commission, Sarah Quilty, chairperson of St. Columb’s Park House, Councillor Gerry MacLochlainn, chair of the Environmental Services Committee, Derry City Council, Eilis Gill, Equality Outreach Co-ordinator, Derry Children’s Commission, and Colin Kennedy, Derry City Council.
At the official opening of the play area in 2009 were, from left, Rosalind Young, Local Strategy Partnership, Caoimhe Duncan, Derry Children’s Commission, Sarah Quilty, chairperson of St. Columb’s Park House, Councillor Gerry MacLochlainn, chair of the Environmental Services Committee, Derry City Council, Eilis Gill, Equality Outreach Co-ordinator, Derry Children’s Commission, and Colin Kennedy, Derry City Council.

The Council says the park, built in 2006 but closed down after a site inspection identified safety issues with rotting timber, will hopefully be open again by the summer time.

The total cost of replacing some of the rot-damaged gear is estimated at between £57,000 and £60,000.

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DC&SDC has set aside £57,000 through its Capital Review Group for this purpose. Details were relayed at the Council’s Environment and Regeneration Committee meeting for February.

“The play area is widely used by visitors and contributes to the wider amenity provided throughout the park and associated leisure facilities.

“The equipment is largely constructed in timber and following safety inspections various pieces of equipment have been withdrawn from use.

“These inspections identified rot within the apparatus presenting risk to users and that would lead ultimately to complete failure of the equipment.

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“In consideration of the above Council sought expert advice on the condition of the timbers and recommendations from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) on what action should be taken to make the equipment safe and fit for purpose. Both of these reports recommended full replacement of the defective equipment either in whole or those elements – individual timbers - that are beyond economic repair,” a report to the committee advised.

Because the park has been in use for just over a decade the Council contacted the manufacturer of the equipment over the necessary repairs.

“Given the relatively short time that the installation had been in use officers contacted the equipment provider in terms of the findings and to discuss warranty issues and replacement options,” the committee was told.

“In considering the condition of the equipment it has been agreed that there is a need to replace some items of equipment in full and to replace a number of timbers in other selected items of equipment. The facility will remain closed to the public until such time as works are made good,” the report said.

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The original provider will now be appointed to replace the rotting wood under a Single Tender Action but with a ‘significant price reduction.’

“It is hoped that the refurbished play facility will be operational this summer,” councillors were told.

Related topics:Strabane District CouncilDerryCouncil