Children's Lives Put At Risk In Local Playground

The children enjoying the new equipment at Tandragee Playground near the Recreation Centre are at serious risk of injury.

This became evident when a local parent was walking the family dog alongside the play area and the dog stood on some broken glass which was hidden in the grass, seriously damaging its leg.

"Our beloved family pet nearly died on the way to the vets. Merlin stood on a piece of glass severing his artery and ligament. He is to have complete rest, which for a two year old Lab/Colly cross isn't easy. Thankfully one month on our dog is making a good recovery, but we dread to think this could easily have happened to a child" said Erin Harbinson.

When the playground was refurbished last year the council did not replace the previous fence when the work was finished, which makes the park very open and accessible - some might say this is good, but it also means there is no longer a clear boundary to the play area and makes it difficult for parents to keep a watchful eye on their children. 

"It is very easy for a child to run away up the bank towards the houses on Austin Drive, and if you are in the park with a couple of children they can be away in the blink of an eye" one local mother said. "And I'm forever looking at the ground to see what we could be standing in, dog dirt or glass; it just takes a lot of pleasure out of coming to the playpark.

If you have any comments to make about the playground, please contact us or post a message on the discussion board on our Facebook page.