Claudia Calleja
Six playgrounds in ‘awful’ state
Six out of 52 playgrounds inspected for safety were found to be in an “awful state” and have to be closed or have their equipment isolated until they are up to scratch, Local Council Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said said.
The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority is recommending local councils close these playgrounds, situated in Mtarfa, Luqa, Paola and Marsalforn and two in St Paul’s Bay.
Dr Said explained that two inspectors from the authority had been tasked to inspect 165 playgrounds around the island that fell under the councils’ responsibility.
Inspections started in April and, so far, the inspectors have visited 52 playgrounds and drawn up detailed reports which they handed to the respective councils, including a list of recommendations on how to improve the particular play area and make it safer.
“Implementing the recommendations will be the responsibility of local councils that will carry the legal responsibility for any accidents on their turf,” Dr Said said.
While the authority will be carrying out annual inspections on all playgrounds, the local council will be checking them daily, he explained.
During the annual inspections, officers will ensure that the criteria for playgrounds’ safety, listed in a national standards document, are adhered to. Standards include the need for fencing, safely designed benches and safe equipment.
Dr Said was speaking during the opening of a training course for the authority’s two inspectors being conducted by the UK’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Later this week local council representatives will be attending similar training sessions. Authority chairman Francis Farrugia said he hoped to implement similar inspections for childcare centres and old people’s homes in future.
Earlier this year, the father of a seven-year-old boy who suffered brain injuries when he fell a height of five metres at Chadwick Lakes, late last year, called for safer playgrounds and recreational areas. He called on the authorities to set up a group of experts who would regularly check such areas to ensure they are safe.
Yesterday evening the Paola local council issued a statement saying it had not been informed to close any of its playgrounds. A government spokesman said the council had been informed verbally and would soon receive the report.
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Kurt Mifsud
Jul 23rd 2011, 00:23
The Mtarfa playground is a heritage from the British and fits perfectly well with the surrounding military buildings. Why did the local council leave it like that? The billboard showing the new playground was put up years ago and has faded! And building a new playground is not the right option, restore the current one, make it safe. Showing off with Military Mtarfa does not mean you're a good dedicated mayor!
Mr Carmel Camilleri
Jul 19th 2011, 15:06
Eureka! As if the councils weren't aware of this. The Marsalforn council's reaction to the regular of complaints and letters in newspapers has consistently been to take everyone for a ride with their staple answer that they were unaware of any problems. I now suggest an audit to find out where the maintenance money which have actually been actually and paid out went to.
Mr J. Bonnici
Jul 19th 2011, 12:21
In a country where fields are nothing more than prospective construction sites, where children can't have decent open spaces to recreate themselves we then deprive them of the thing they enjoy most - playing.
Theirs will be an insulin and benzodiazepine generation.
Mr Reginald Borg
Jul 19th 2011, 10:56
Six playgrounds in ‘awful’ state.
Point taken! Dr. Said......Take the necessary measures to protect children!
But may I ask: what about certain pavements in Valletta......a case in point ARCHBISHOP'S STREET (between Republic Street and Auberge d'Aragon)?
All pedestrians should be protected!
J Attard
Jul 19th 2011, 09:36
I'm curious if the playground in Victoria, Gozo adjacent to the old bus terminus was on the list of inspected sites. For the longest time it has been in a terrible and dangerous state littered with broken glass and covered with obscene graffiti. I know of people that have also found used hypodermic needles in the area. At night this 'playground' and I used the word lightly, is a hangout for teens and club goers. How this facility could remain in such a digusting and dangerous state for so long is beyond belief.
Ms maris White
Jul 19th 2011, 08:26
Whilst in Gozo some weeks ago, I took my niece to the Victoria's Gozo (Rabat) playground and was utterly disgusted with the state of the playground. The place was full of broken glass and thus I couldn't let her run freely! The rubber mats were older than my grandma's carpets and the place looks awful.. Is this the safety we are offering to our kids? And then we wonder how come parents prefer to let their kids play inside with computer rather than taking them to some playground.