Safety issues at Wick play park anger local councillor
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A Wick and East Caithness councillor has pointed out potential danger issues at a children's play park and an adjacent vehicle turning point in the Hillhead area of Wick.
Wick provost and ward councillor for the area, Jan McEwan, is embroiled in the latest issues surrounding a turning point for visitors and residents on Macleod Road which has been a long-standing problem.
Cllr McEwan wrote to Evan Sinclair from the council's Amenities Services (North) late last year and said: "I don’t know if you have seen the proposed turning point at Hillhead, it’s a joke.
"For one, the slide is too near the proposed fence and the turning point. I really think there is a safety issue and I am concerned. Can the slide be moved to the other side?"
Mr Sinclair wrote back and told her that he had stopped council workers at the site and notified them that the turning head was "way too close to the slide and not what was proposed".
He added: "They are now reinstating the earth and moving the fence so the slide has the correct safety fall space. I will be keeping a close eye on what they are doing to ensure things are kept safe to use."
Cllr McEwan told him it was "really not much of a turning point though, and not very well thought out".
She said that a turning point was needed as motorists had been using the car park of Caithness Klics, a young carers' charity project on Macleod Road, to enable them to manoeuvre back out of the cul-de-sac. A solution was needed, especially after Klics installed a gate at its base which stopped all but staff from using its car parking facilities.
When pushed to reconsider the siting of the gate, the charity stated through its agent that "if Highland Council members believe a turning head is required on safety grounds then such a requirement is one for the council to fulfil rather than requiring this on private ground".
"Drivers were using the Klics car park/playground as a turning area but it was pretty dangerous because of the children being there," Cllr McEwan said during a recent visit to the site. "They've made the turning point and improved it from the last time I saw but my main concern is the children's slide.
"When they erect the fence around it, I think it will be practically up against the slide. The council said they can't move the slide but this play park is large and I think it could be re-sited to another part. The turning point could also be squared off to make a good parking area for the play park."
She pointed out the health and safety issue that could arise from children jumping down beside the fence and feels there is enough room to re-erect the slide in another area of the park. There is also a steep slope that could cause issues for children playing around the slide.
"I spoke to the council amenities department and they said they could not move the slide. They said it wasn't practical. The common sense thing is for the slide to be moved and this turning point extended into a proper parking area."
However, Highland Council says it will not move the slide and believes there are no safety issues. A spokesman said: “The turning area has been moved to outside the fall space recommended for this slide so there are no safety issues with it, as the fence is going to be installed outside the safety fall space of the slide. There are no plans to move the slide.”
