10/07/20 

Work has begun to ensure that children's play areas and outdoor fitness equipment in Cardiff's parks are safe to use, following the Welsh Government announcement that they can now re-open to the public. 

Cardiff has more than 100 play areas and nine outdoor fitness areas and safety inspections will need to be carried out at each site before they can be re-opened to the public. 

To ensure that all areas of Cardiff have some outdoor children's play provision available to use as quickly as possible, these inspections and any necessary work to reinstate or repair equipment will be carried out on phased basis over the coming weeks and months. 

Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: "We appreciate that people will be keen to use these facilities as soon as possible, but much as we're looking forward to children enjoying our play areas again, it's really important that they can enjoy them safely.

"We'll play our part in that by making sure the equipment is safe to use, but ultimately families visiting play areas and those using our outdoor fitness areas will need to take responsibility for keeping themselves and others safe, maintaining social distancing and making sure that hands are washed before and after their visit."

As well as carrying out inspections to identify any equipment or safety surfacing that has deteriorated, been damaged or vandalised during the three months in which they have been closed, new signage will also be installed with the aim of minimising, as far as possible, the risk of transmitting Covid-19 when using the play and fitness equipment.