Acle play area: decision deferred

Acle Parish Council has deferred a decision on whether to take on a play area that needs urgent maintenance.Parish councillor Nigel Law, a trustee at Acle Recreation Centre, had asked the council to take on the responsibility for the Bridewell Lane centre's play area, which needs �20,000 of work.

Acle Parish Council has deferred a decision on whether to take on a play area that needs urgent maintenance.

Parish councillor Nigel Law, a trustee at Acle Recreation Centre, had asked the council to take on the responsibility for the Bridewell Lane centre's play area, which needs �20,000 of work.

Inspectors from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents visited in July and deemed the facilities to be of medium risk. That grading meant there was no immediate danger that children would suffer an accident using the equipment - but there could be later unless repairs were done.

Mr Law told the Mercury earlier this month that the equipment, including a see-saw, swings, climbing frame and roundabouts, were 16 years old and had become worn out over time.

Rust had developed in places and moss was growing through the rubber tiles that act as a cushion if a child falls.

He said some of the tiles had worn thin, and the aim was to replace the rubber flooring and refurbish the equipment.

Donations can be made to the administrator at the recre-ation centre and to Mr Law at Acle Post Office, which he runs with his wife Brenda.

The parish council's deferral decision was taken at a meeting on Monday.