Yesterdays (15th January) South Wales Echo printed the following story about the loss of children's play areas in Cardiff (online access to article here):
'Children devastated with loss of much loved play areas'
Today the Echo names 32 parks and open spaces in Cardiff where play equipment has been taken away after failing safety checks.
Detailed obtained by the Echo under the Freedom of Information Act show that 71 items of children's play equipment have been removed over the past 18 months after inspectors ruled it had reached its 'end of life'.
Items, including multi-play equipment, tubes, seesaws, climbers and rockers, were found to be rotting, corroded and not meeting European safety standards.
Now Labour councillors plan to demand the equipment is replaced at this month's council meeting.
Councillor Sophie Howe, a month of three young children and the party's deputy leader and Cardiff North Assembly candidate, said: 'Children across the city have been devastated by the loss of their much-loved play areas. In some cases all of the equipment has been removed, leaving a derelict park and in others certain pieces of equipment have been taken, leaving only a few items for children to play on.
'Play areas make a huge contribution to the community, not just as places for children to play but also as places where they use up their endless energy and where their parents can meet up with other mums and dads.
'The removal of this equipment is hitting the heart of the community and leaving parents and children with nowhere to go.'
She said information obtained by the party showed that equipment would be removed from a further 11 parks in coming months.
(To continue reading the article, go to the main page here)
Update: 16:41
The BBC also cover this story and they also quote Sophie. You can see the article here
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