Bad Timing (From Penarth Times)

Bad Timing

PENARTH youngsters were left devastated this school holiday, after discovering a favourite local play area had been demolished.

Children making use of the sunny weather and visiting the Cliff Walk amenity, run by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, were disappointed to find all activities had gone and a cage of mesh fencing had been put up in its place.

But, according to the authority, the youngsters will have lots to look forward to in the summer holidays, when a new £50,000 state-of-the-art play area opens instead.

Grandfather-of-seven Mike Collins, of Seabank, was planning to take his four-year-old granddaughter Molly to the popular area.

Mike said: "I couldn't believe it. Why couldn't the council wait until after the holiday? They could have done it any time. Why are they doing it now when children are on holiday for two weeks?"

He added: "It's a pity they couldn't have got the contractors to start work later, when the children were back in school. It's so popular up here. I often bring Molly here and she loves it. It's good that they're doing something, but why the holidays?"

He highlighted the fact that a council sign on the fencing said works would be carried out by the week commencing April 8 - this week.

Grandparents Mary and Paddy Hales, of Cardiff, took grandchildren David Hales, 10, and Pippa, 6, of Pontprennau, to the park on Monday.

Mrs Hales said: "We bought them here specifically for the park. Now they can't go on it because it is closed."

A council spokesman said: "The refurbishment of the Cliff Walk play area represents a major investment by the authority. The council is spending £50,000 out of its 2001-2002 capital programme to create a new path to the playground from Cliff Parade, and new play equipment which complies with European standards is being installed.

"The council regrets the work had to be carried out over Easter, however, the playground will be ready in time for the summer holidays."

Cllr Anthony Ernest, chairman of the council's Economy and Environment Scrutiny Committee, said: "The play area was probably getting quite worn. The financial year starts on April 1, and we wanted to start in early spring and get work completed before the summer months began."

According to the sign at the site, the completed play area will include safety surfacing, swings, spring rockers, spring stepping stones and a chain jungle bridge.