Newquay mayor challenges removal of play equipment from council park

A Newquay councillor has criticised the removal of play equipment from a play park, questioning why Cornwall Council has not replaced it and suggesting the opening of a new £150,000 playground elsewhere in the town was used to justify the decision.

Drew Creek, who is also Newquay's mayor, says he was informed before the summer that a piece of equipment at the Reeds Way play area had been deemed unsafe and would be removed.

However, he claims Cornwall Council officers linked the decision not to replace it to the opening of Newquay Town Council's new play park at Mount Wise.

Speaking to Radio Newquay, Councillor Creek said he had strongly challenged that reasoning, arguing that the new facility was intended to supplement existing playgrounds rather than replace them.

"I think somewhat frustratingly, they conflated the idea that we were delivering this fantastic new play facility at Mount Wise with the justification that they didn't need to replace said piece of play equipment," he said.

"I strongly rebutted that as a principle and highlighted that we were supplementing existing play areas with the Mount Wise play area, not replacing."

Councillor Creek said he understood the equipment had since been removed by Cormac following safety inspections.

He is now calling for Cornwall Council to allocate funding to maintain its existing playgrounds and replace equipment when necessary.

"What I am fighting for is that Cornwall Council reallocates some budget to making sure that the existing play areas that are within their purview are well maintained.

"And indeed, when things need replacing, they are replaced and not just removed."

PRESS PLAY to hear more from Councillor Creek...

  

In a statement to Radio Newquay, Cornwall Council confirmed that the equipment had been removed on safety grounds and revealed that the Reeds Way play area was designated as surplus to requirements more than a decade ago.

A Cornwall Council spokesperson said:

"While there are no immediate plans to remove the play area at Reeds Way, our Open Space Strategy adopted in 2014 designated the site as surplus to requirement because there are several other play areas in the immediate vicinity.

"We are continuing to maintain the Reeds Way play area until its lifespan is reached. We have recently removed an item of equipment on safety grounds following a recent inspection."

Mount Wise playground hailed a success

Meanwhile, Councillor Creek says the new £150,000 Mount Wise play park, which opened in September, has proved hugely popular with local families.

The playground was built over the summer by specialist company Wicksteed following consultation with the community.

Funded through contributions from Boardmasters and the Community Infrastructure Levy, it forms part of a wider regeneration project at Mount Wise Gardens.

Newquay Town Council says the facility includes modern, accessible and inclusive equipment for children of different ages and abilities.

Councillor Creek said he had been delighted by the response from families, with children regularly using the park before and after school and at weekends.

"I've been absolutely thrilled with the take-up at Mount Wise. We've seen so many children make Mount Wise Play Park, and obviously parents as well, a core part of their day."

He also believes the new facility is helping to change school-run habits, with more parents using Mount Wise car park rather than driving into the busy Mayfield Estate area.

He said Trenance Learning Academy had almost exhausted its allocation of free parking permits for parents using the car park during school drop-off and collection times.

"I think it's brilliant for kids' safety. It's brilliant for their health and wellbeing because they're out and about in the play space.

"The kids are telling me that they love it, and it's exactly what they asked for."

PRESS PLAY to hear more from Councillor Creek...