Call for new play equipment

A parish councillor has criticised the lack of play equipment in Holbeach parks.

Coun Isobel Hutchinson says she joined Holbeach Parish Council back in 2003 due to being unhappy with play equipment.
Two different Friends of Carter’s Park groups were set up, one by herself and one by former councillor Kelly Wilson to get much of what’s currently available.
But as that was around two decades ago, Coun Hutchinson says the equipment is coming to the end of its life, pointing out that three pieces of equipment are currently out of use.
“We are now at the point that several items are either out of action or being removed which leaves the children with less variety and there appears to be no plans or budget to replace any equipment removed,” she said. “If this continues we will be back to the situation I found 20 years ago with aging equipment and no plan for improvements.
“Unless another community group gets involved nothing will happen and the facilities will continue to deteriorate.”
A spokesman for Holbeach Parish Council said: “We are surprised that Coun Isobel Hutchinson has raised this issue again, as her questions have previously been addressed at council meetings.
“For the financial year 2023-24, we have invested £37,957.64 in replacing play equipment at Carter’s Park. Additionally, funds have been allocated in earmarked reserves for further replacements in the current financial year, and we plan to continue this in the next financial year.
“Unfortunately, two pieces of play equipment have recently broken, and since the parts needed for repairs are no longer available, they will need to be removed.
“While Carter’s Park had not seen significant investment in play equipment for many years, the efforts of the Open Spaces Committee over the past two years have allowed us to make meaningful progress.”

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