Playground Inspections and Maintenance

Children’s Play Areas (CPA), have either a grass surface or a tarmac surface.

The ground around the base of the play equipment has a softer safety surface to help prevent serious injuries to the users

Inspections

All the playgrounds in the Borough are inspected by The Landscape Group (formerly Wyevale Grounds Maintenance) once per week. This inspection is to ensure that the play equipment and the play ground is:

• safe

• secure

• clear of broken glass

• free of litter for the users

Any urgent defects found by The Landscape Group are reported to Eastbourne Borough Council. 

The playgrounds are also inspected by Parks and Gardens staff. This is to monitor what Wyevale are doing and to arrange for additional works to be organised and inspected.

Once a year all the playgrounds are inspected by ‘RoSPA’ (The Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents) who are an independent body. They inspect and catagorise all hazards as High, Medium and Low. The Parks and Gardens section then prioritises all works according to this risk rating. 

If we have to close a playground completely for essential maintenance we try, if possible to give one week's notice. If we are closing down damaged or defective equipment we do this straight away and we try to have the repairs completed within one to two weeks if possible.

Maintenance of the Playgrounds

• Pathways and hardstanding including Safety surfacing.

• Wyevale sweep all paved and hard surfaces clean every fortnight. They also clear these areas of weeds.

Grass cutting

• The grass is cut to a height of between 50 mm (normal cutting height) and a maximum of 75 mm.

• All arisings are left on the ground, as a cut and let fly operation

Litter clearing

• Litter in playgrounds is cleared every day or as instructed by Parks and Gardens.

Litter bins

• Litter bins are emptied as required but before the bins are 75 percent full.