Updated: Councils told to close or repair six playgrounds

Joe Fenech

Jul 19th 2011, 15:01

I visited some of these 2 years ago with my relatives, but the people hanging around are savages who throw dirt in the soil, etc. DO NOT BLAMES COUNCILS FOR YOUR LACK OF CIVILISATION !

Maria Camilleri Calleja

Jul 18th 2011, 21:27

To the Paola Local Council,

I am flabbergusted at your statement. Don't you know about the miserable state of the playing field at Wied Blandun Garden? In fact, does anyone of you ever visit this place? Well, I did, with my niece and son, and ran for the hills. The equipment is old and painted with lead paint in horrendous colours, aprt from the dangerous rough flooring around the swings which makes play-time a heart attack every five minutes for parents.

This place is not safe for children. You should have declared it unsafe yourselves. Why do you have to wait for a report from the central authorities to be able to do so? This is all red tape, and it is shame that you hide behind a sieve in this manner.

Do something tangible instead ! renovate the playing field and renovate the garden please.

Rachel Williams

Jul 18th 2011, 20:17

Vida magazine, way back at the beginning of the year had investigated the dire state of playgrounds - for heaven's sake it is time to wake up and smell the coffee!!!

Kieron O'connor

Jul 18th 2011, 19:59

So the question remains, in the short term until the councils decide if they are closing or repairing the playgrounds, are those who use the facility covered by Insurance?

Mr Jo Camm

Jul 18th 2011, 19:01

Those who live far from Paola will think that the Paul Boffa Garden has been in the good condition it is in at the moment for many, many years. Far from it. It has been abandoned for many, many years. so much so that I asked my wife if LC elections are near in Paola, as they are enhancing the PB Garden.

adrian sammut

Jul 18th 2011, 18:29

Quote:
The Times Wed July 6 2011;
"A €450,000 new garden is being built at Bahar ic-Caghaq on 1,800 square metres of land.

The garden, which will improve the area and provide recreational space for families, is being built following discussions with the Bahar ic-Caghaq administrative council.

Resources Minister George Pullicino this morning visited the works, being financed by the central government with the collaboration of the Naxxar Council.

The council would be contributing play equipment to form part of the garden."

Unquote

Bahar Ic-Caghaq - Population : 1250
Mtarfa - Population - 2430

Issa x-xoghol f'Bahar ic-Caghaq diga ghaddej gmielu u fl-Imtarfa gbajna nixxenqu nharsu lejn il-pjanti u ritratti digitali.

TAL-MISTHIJA!!

Ms ANNA GRECH

Jul 18th 2011, 16:30

St. Paul's Bay Local Council.... what a joke! Last Saturday, the Local Council together with the Kumitat Festa organised a Lejla Pawlina near Wignacourt Tower at the "newly refurbished promenade" as per posters posted in various parts of the locality.

Does "newly refurbished" , according to the mayor and the organisers mean no pavement, no panoramic balcony as only cantilevered steel beams (not all!) are in place, no railings but instead concrete blocks? Furthermore, it is also dangerous to gain access to the beach as heavy machinery and other bulding material is strewn all over the place. Should this not have been ready before the summer season?

Congratulations for the timing!

Miriam Spiteri

Jul 18th 2011, 14:33

Over a month ago I wrote to the B'Kara local council with regards to the playground at Fleur De Lys. This playground has two openings direct on major roads. Thus I suggested the installment of gates. A couple of weeks ago I went personally to the local council and was told to make another report since they couldn't find the original mail. Well, here we are, no feedback and as expected no gates. Now I read that they should inspect playgrounds on a daily basis. It's shameful that the taxpayers ' money keeps going to waste and there is noone ready to take action about it.

Mary R Borg

Jul 18th 2011, 14:20

These playing fields were summarily taken over by government from Malta Playing Fields Association who had established them with hard work and a lot of unpaid time, and passed on to local councils in 1993. Does this not show clearly that playinhg fields should have been left in the hands of that philantropic organisation and help given to it rather than leave these places ,where our children have a sacrosant right to play, in such a sorry state..

Chris Sammut

Jul 18th 2011, 14:06

Hal Luqa's playground been there ages, 99% I use to use it when I was a kid. Luqa council: I don't know what you are doing for the village. Everytime I come over from abroad everything seems the same. Luqa village deserves better, not fair you only think about votes when the elections come near!! Maybe time for change? And then there's another thing, It's a playground for kids then there's the (bocci club bar) I never agreed that they 'll be that close together. Adults go in there and teenagers that end up useing the playground in a bad manner. Alot happen in the past, the locals know what I'm talking about.

As happens here in the UK playgrounds should be checked frquently by serious people. At the end it's our children that will use it. What will happen if they injure themselves? Council resposible? I'm sure that won't be the case in MALTA. And com'on where there's still old tyres used as swings remove them please, we are not a third world country (SUPPOST), or is it a type of recycling?

Mr Gino Schiavone

Jul 18th 2011, 13:45

It is high time there will be a minster responsible for Sport, leisure, outdoors and playwork with the right secretariat and also the proper finances to run from educational courses to maintenance- including the outdoors and playwork- if you visit www.skillsactive.com one will realise that there is a lot to do to get quality and not just quantity.

Playgrounds cannot be left to the added responsibility of councils- they should be consulted yes but if you leave it to local councils there is no serious plan- and each kids playground should have an adult outdoor gym included- this is family enjoyment, fitness etc. A serious plan must be underway- which of course will be dictated by the right finance.

Health and safety are a must and we must also increase employment in this sector- the goverment already has a sytsem where civil servants with associations can apply to work full time with associations and receive their pay- this must be bettered for the sake of all the above- we can all make it right if we play well as a team

Ian Sansone

Jul 18th 2011, 13:32

Well the photo looks descent when comparing it to the one in Mtarfa. I dare not take my 3 year old kid to play in Mtarfa as its in a total mess with rusted slides and swings and a haven for rats and syringes. I have been living in Mtarfa for the past 5 years and everytime I pass from next to the field there is a bill board portraying a happy family enjoying the proposed playing field. The bill board has been up for the past 4 years.... I guess by the time the playing field is done even the happy family would have born wrinkles on them :) ....

Mr Marius Zulgis

Jul 18th 2011, 13:21

Why give them the option to close the playgrounds? Why should innocent children have to pay for their inefficiencies?

Mr R ferriggi

Jul 18th 2011, 13:13

to the mellieha local council.

this is not a negative criticism.

the edge of the slide at the playground near to shoppers and cross keys needs urgent attention.

it is dangerous as it is very sharp and last week i saw a child fall onto it and shatter his lower lip.

the edge at the end of the slide. it needs to be rounded off, not left as it is.

thanks

Mr Lawrence Fenech

Jul 18th 2011, 13:08

Iva, lejliet l-elezzjoni u jiftahom Gonzi jekk ikun ghadu hemm.

Mr ALBERT FENECH

Jul 18th 2011, 13:03

Which playgrounds in St. Paul's Bay? Does this include the Qawra playground which is in a state of shambles? Residents are well aware that this Council has been dubbed the worst in Malta and this more or less confirms it. Why is the Qawra playground left open at nights? All kinds of drunks congregate there (Maltese and foreign alike), shouting obscenities, causing havoc and vandalism and often sexual acts (not only nights but on a 24-hour basis). This should be railed and closed during the evenings and Wardens - instead of hiding behind vehicles and pouncing out to slap Parking tickets on desperate motorists who have nowhere else to park - should be instructed to regularly patrol this playground.

ALBERT FENECH
Qawra

Kenneth Galea

Jul 18th 2011, 12:51

Enviornment in Malta was always at the bottom of the list. Having said that we have seen some improvements though with rebuilding of roads from scratch etc.
However keeping Malta tidy is tough because there is no discipline and vandals get away with it normally with just an ear bashing.

G Falzon

Jul 18th 2011, 12:51

A bar sits in the middle of the playing field at Luqa!

Ms Tanya Briffa

Jul 18th 2011, 12:45

We love the Naxxar playground which large, mostly safe, and shaded by trees all day.

Our only woe is the number of flies and the state of the public conveniences, which are mostly closed anyway.

Otherwise thanks a lot!

Antoine Azzopardi

Jul 18th 2011, 12:20

The two playing grounds in St Paul's Bay are not suitable to be used by our children!

The one behind BOV has been left in this state for years - at night I've seen youngsters drinking alcohol and breaking glass bottles just for the fun of it. During the day there is no shade whatsoever.

The one next to the school has most of it's equipment broken, and on one side, a toddler can easily fall a height of 2 metres on concrete, as the barriers are two simple. Also there is also easy access to the nearby road, which with all the "schumachers" we have in malta makes this playing field pretty much dangerous.

Well done for closing these down, however may I suggest that these are not left closed but are refurbished!!!

Bernard Storace

Jul 18th 2011, 12:15

Maybe this is an opportunity to exploit the prowess of the wardens. They always spot things which are out of place maybe they will carry on this sterling work by looking after the safety of the playing fields. After all it seems they are coining it well enough considering that there is no spare cash left for the councils after the innocent and not so innocent driver has been fleeced.

Lack of maintenance allows metal to deteriorate and result in 'metal fatigue' a dangerous situation if ever there was one. Playing fields, in the interest of all concerned, have to be safe, well lit and free of any objects or protruding nails and sharp edges upon which a child can run into and hurt itself.....who is responsible then......???

Frank Muscat

Jul 18th 2011, 12:14

It will be appropriate if one takes a look at the Mgarr (Malta) playing field. The chain links which hold the chains of the double swings are being eroded to the extent that one of these days it will snap causing injuries. In fact one of the chains is being held by a piece of rope instead of a chain link.

G Spiteri

Jul 18th 2011, 12:09

I am sure the reports on the "daily inspections" at the Mtarfa playing field would make fun reading.

R. Grech

Jul 18th 2011, 12:05

Daily inspections! Crap!!! When taking my kids to the swings at times it takes the "council" six bloody months to have something fixed! Go to Torri playground, swings have been removed "for repair" for ages!!

John Micallef

Jul 18th 2011, 11:51

The one in Paola is just a month old... What gives?

Maria Camilleri Calleja

Jul 18th 2011, 11:49

What fun that finally this article is in the news ! I hope that the Paola playing field which is being referred to is the one in Wied Blandun Garden, about which I have already drawn attention twice, including to the Paola Local Council, without ever being acknowledged.

I would be just as glad to see the playing field dismantled because in its present state it only serves as a 'minefield' [rather than a playing field] where kids can deliberately hurt themselves on the rough flooring and the shabby swings.

Last Monday the Paola Local Council inaugurated a new playing field in Gnien Paul Boffa - incidentally the same area where the Local Council HQs are situated - but apparently the periferial playing field of Wied Blandun and its adjacent gardens are not yet in the plan for refurbishment.

To the detriment of whom? Of our children first of all. Secondly, to the neighbourhoods detriment with the low level of hygiene in the garden infested with wild cats, rats not to mention dog poo, which is hardly ever cleaned up.

The MRRA technicians visit daily for their gardening work early in the morning in the gardens, but I very much doubt that they have ever reported the sorry state of this garden and its playing field. Too much trouble? Perhaps.

The Malta Standarsd Authority and the Parliamentary Secretary should do something about it quickly, which includes much more than "close down six playgrounds or replace some of their equipment" (quoted from above article.

ACTION PLEASE !!!!!

Kevin Spiteri

Jul 18th 2011, 11:49

Would there have been 'daily inspections', such playing fields would not ended in such a pitiful state!

Karla Grima

Jul 18th 2011, 11:43

Daily inspections .... please give me a break .... what daily inspections .... St Paul's Bay is in shambles .... and its not just the two playing fields (which date back to the 70s & 80s)
Council must be on holiday somewhere ...

Michael Flaherty

Jul 18th 2011, 11:38

Whilst I agree that some playgrounds are in a sorry state, I find it unfair that the picture used to garnish this article is of the Marsascala playground, where the ride depicted has been dismantled for a good while now. Wouldn't it have made more sense to show something that people could actually see for themselves, rather than a sore memory?

Mario Spiteri

Jul 18th 2011, 11:35

Out of six playgrounds, two are in St.Paul's Bay...makes one wonder!

Mr Tony Camilleri

Jul 18th 2011, 11:16

If the local councils made their daily inspections, how come the photo shows such a sorry state in the equipment?

Paul Borg

Jul 18th 2011, 11:15

Whilst at it, can someone please take action on the playground near the Gudja football pitch? This playground seems as if in a war zone with pieces of bricks scattered all over the place!

Christine Galea

Jul 18th 2011, 11:02

It is a disgrace that a town like in Mtarfa does not have a proper playing field. We have been promised a playing field before the last council election in fact about two months before the council election a billboard was erected with the promise of playing field. The billboard is still there but alas the playground is still in shambles. The council should be ashamed.

adrian agius

Jul 18th 2011, 10:47

well i'm sure that the inspectors havn't yet seen the pembroke playground near the new Government school. It's in a sorry state and one of the items is broken, plus full of rubbish and missing lights.

Vicki Azzopardi

Jul 18th 2011, 10:31

Dr Said explained that the playgrounds are the responsibility of local councils, who carry out daily inspections. The Authority carries out annual inspections and sends its recommendations to the councils.

Daily inspections my foot !!!