Parents want answers as Stoke-on-Trent play area shut on hottest weekend of 2024

Jonathan Sutton

14 May 2024 at 2:02 am·2-min read

A play area at a popular park remains shuts. Stoke-on-Trent City Council shut the children's play area at Tunstall Park in April due to the 'mindless vandalism' of the equipment.

It left the facility padlocked shut throughout Easter - and now during the hottest weekend of 2024 too. The issue has been raised at the latest meetings of Sandyford and Goldenhill Residents' Association and Tunstall Town Centre Community Association.

Park visitor Helen Jacobs said: “It is disappointing that it is still closed but I understand that if it’s not safe you don’t want kids using it. It is a real shame at the moment because the weather is nice and I expect parents would like to bring their kids here to play. It’s sad that people spoil it for others.”

This is not the first time the park has been forced to closed - only last year the safety surface was ripped up by vandals. At the time park goers called for more CCTV in the area to catch the culprits.

Tunstall resident Lisa Wall added: “Inconsiderate disrespectful kids are ruining it for everybody else. The council isn't going to keep replacing it, I bet it costs a fortune to replace equipment. There will be a time when they simply say it is costing too much and then it will be gone forever and that will be a shame. You are seeing vandalism like this all around, it’s all about respect.”

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has previously blamed the play area closure on 'mindless vandalism' and apologised to park users. StokeonTrentLive has approached the council for a new statement to find out when the play area will reopen - and is still awaiting an answer.

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