A poll on the Facebook Group, Hailsham News and Talk has shown a large percentage of residents would like to see the play parks back open in the town.
70% of participants said they would allow their children to play in the various parks in Hailsham, whilst 21% think they should remain closed to the public. Only 9% said they were unsure.
Responding to the poll, Hailsham Town Council has revealed why parks remain closed and the processes and procedures they have to adhere to. All play parks, exercise areas and community halls owned by the town council were closed following government guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s become clear it is not a simple case of unlocking the park gates and allowing children access to them again – government guidelines and staffing issues are just some of the areas that need to be considered by the small town council team.
New, bespoke risk assessments have had to be produced to gauge the risks involved and have identified a number of swing seats will need to be removed to enforce social distancing. Many new signs have been produced to advise the public how to use each individual park safely and within the Government guidance.
In addition, the Council will need to staff each area to ensure they are cleaned each morning to ensure safety. The chemicals and sprayers have been purchased ready to start this process once the numerous signs have been installed.
Micky Caira, Deputy Clerk from Hailsham Town Council told Hailsham News; “The Council understands the public’s frustration but this is all very new to us and we have to work with what the Government and our insurers throw at us. We opened the Street Market on Saturday and should have the toilets open soon, but with limited hours, so that they can be cleaned every time they are used.”
Facilities such as the James West Centre also remain closed to the public. There is no official guidance to Community Centres available, according to the council. This makes it difficult to decide what can take place in the centre and how it can be kept clean between bookings.
