Play Areas

Inverness Area Community Council Forum

24 August 2010

David Haas, Inverness City Manager

Play Areas

Current scenario:-• Budget Challenges• Down from 120 municipal play areas in 2003

to 96 in 2010• Ongoing deterioration of equipment• Lack of available funding for replacement and

upgrading

Play Areas

Opportunities;• Highland Council setting up contract for play

equipment• Organisations working in partnership with the

Council can benefit• External funding is available and can be used

to supplement existing budgets• Communities can decide what facilities they

want locally and help to create & develop them

Play Areas

Knowledge & Experience available

• In Highland Council – TEC Services• In Community Councils• Many Successful Projects to demonstrate

progress• Exemplar - Walker Park Project

Play Areas

Getting Serious About PlayThe process of upgrading local playparks

Play AreasA Wee Bit Of Background Info

• Provision of equipped play areas is NOT statutory

• Playground equipment is quite expensive stuff – rule of thumb is that to replace one item is £10,000

• TECS are responsible for the maintenance (not the replacement) of play equipment

• Some sites (within school grounds, new developments) are NOT theresponsibility of TECS – these are viewed as privately owned sites

• Highland Council funding is very limited and budgets will continue to be put under pressure in future years

• Communities can access funding streams that are not available to The Council

• Play Areas ARE being removed – Inverness Area has reduced from 120 to 96 play areas over the past few years

Play AreasThe Upgrading Process – step by step guide

• 1. Identification – from single item replacement to whole site upgrades. In conjunction with the annual independent safety audit/risk assessment and TECS schedules.

• 2. Community investigates funding sources – involve local Member to add weight to funding applications. TECS will liaise with suppliers to obtain provisional quotes/designs to substantiate funding bids.

• 3. Kitty – offers of funding from various sources dictate extent of project. This will also dictate whether the project will be competitive quotations or official tendering process as per The Councils official Standing Orders policy.

• 4. Consultation – TECS can undertake public consultation. Usually in the form of simple questionnaire and/or talk to schools/groups. Aim is to identify usage, age groups, likes, dislikes, aspirations. AVOID SHOWING BROCHURES – a class of 30 kids will want 30 different bits of equipment!!!

• 5. Whether the quotation or the tendering process is to be followed the results of the consultation will be used to drive the design so that the community gets the park it desires.

• 6. Evaluation of submissions – option for community representative to be involved in the evaluation of submissions against set criteria to ensure standards are met.

• 7. Final design approval and Award of Contract. TECS oversee installation works and “Sign Off” when complete and any snagging issues rectified. Adoption of equipment by THC.

• 8. Payment. - If the park is to be available for “free and open” use and THC is going to take ownership of the equipment and COUNCIL STANDING ORDERS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED then THC can place the order to save the VAT. Community makes “contribution” to THC for value of project exc VAT

Play AreasSUPPLIERS – be aware or beware?

• Will try and sell you the most profitable items to THEM

• Safety Surfacing – cheaper options make quotes attractive but are to be avoided

• Equipment and safety surfaces must meet BSEN1176 and BSEN1177

• Your play area should fit in with the local surroundings and offer good play value

• Check credentials of installers & surfacers – avoid cowboys!!!

• Best practice is to liaise with TECS

Play AreasEquipment etc

• Should tick as many of the boxes as shown up by the consultation as possible

• Should offer a range of fun, stimulation and challenge

• Risk should be managed – not eliminated

• Opportunity to create a community facility to be enjoyed by everyone –play equipment for kids, fitness equipment for the more mature, seating for parents and the elderly

• Inclusive equipment offered by most suppliers which is suitable for people with disabilities and the able bodied and avoids “specialist” areas or segregation

Play AreasSafety Surfacing – my personal view

• Wetpour (spongy rubber). Best available safety surface but the most expensive. Can be different colours or include graphic designs at extra costs. Usually comes with a 5 year guarantee from the supplier. Depth in adjusted in relation to Critical Fall Heights at time of laying. Need dry weather and temperatures above 5 degrees C to lay so can be a problem with winter installations.

• Rubber Tiles Hard wearing and durable. A range of thicknesses in relation to Critical Fall Heights. A small range of colours from some suppliers. Joints (filled with silicone sealant) can deteriorate in time and allow weeds to grow.

• Loose Fill – bark, wood chips, sand, gravel. Cheaper than rubber initially but after 5 to 7 years more expensive due to top-up costs. Needs regular raking back into position – ideally on a daily basis. Bark retains moisture in wet areas and becomes mucky. Can “hide” sharps – broken glass, twisted cans, syringes etc. Movement can expose foundations of equipment .Attracts animal fouling which can be hard to detect until “too late!”

• Grass Mats – please, please, please avoid! Cheapest option that makes quotations look attractive. Voids soon fill up with soil and it fails to act as an impact absorbing surface. Grass grows through holes which looks nice but causes maintenance headaches.

Play AreasWetpour & rubber tiles

Play AreasLoose Fill

Play AreasGrass Mats

Play AreasSome Do’s and Don’ts

• Please do …….

• Involve TECS right from the start• Consider longevity and maintenance• Get your local Member on board• Talk to the community especially the

kids• Think BIG and include peripherals –

fencing, gates, furniture• Be prepared for a long haul – some

bigger projects have taken 4 or 5 years to complete

• Be imaginative about how to raise funds and include the kids in fundraising schemes (bag packing at supermarkets, car washing weekends, jumble sales, village fetes, sponsored events etc etc)

• Enjoy working with your neighbours to enhance your community

• Please don’t …….

• Contact suppliers directly• Expect certain specific items to be

guaranteed to be included in any design

• Be put off by seemingly high costs• Get disheartened

Play AreasHilton Village – community council £13k

Play AreasDaviot – Friends of Daviot School £40k

Play AreasKirkhill – Kirkhill & Bunchrew Community Trust £55k

Play AreasCastle Heather Park – Hilton, Milton & Castle Heather

Community Council - £30k

Play AreasLeachkin Road - Inverness

Play AreasAchareidh, Nairn – community council £20k

Play AreasBoath Park, Nairn – Youth Fund & Ward 19

Play AreasLawers Way, Inverness. £25k

Play Areas

Options to consider:

• Create a Playpark trust/company limited by guarantee with charitable status

• Continue to work as individual groups on ad hoc projects

Play Areas

Benefits of trust/company approach;• Can seek funds from a wide range of

external organisations• Can build up knowledge & expertise• Recognised vehicle for communities to

approach

Play Areas

Issues to address

• Governance, membership, scope• Development strategy• Timing is all if VAT is to be recovered!

Play Areas

• iain.reid@highland.gov.uk

• 01463-703111

• TEC Services, 94 Diriebught Road, Inverness, IV2 3QN