Broken/damaged/missing playground equipment

The request was successful.

Dear Blackpool Borough Council,

Could I please have a list, broken down by playground, of all of the broken, missing or damaged playground equipment currently blighting Blackpool's parks, and the cost of repairing or replacing each item.

Yours faithfully,

John Simpson

FOI, Blackpool Borough Council

Dear Mr Simpson

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information that we received on 10/05/2021.  Your request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

You will receive the information you have requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to any exemptions that may apply.

Although the Council is aware of its statutory requirements under the FOIA, the UK is in the midst of an unprecedented national emergency due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). This emergency has placed an enormous strain on Local Authorities including high staff absence, mandatory homeworking and resource being redeployed to assist front line services. The Council will endeavour to meet statutory deadlines for requests but please note there is a likelihood of delays. If this is the case please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused and we appreciate your patience during these challenging times.

You should note that the Act defines a number of exemptions that may prevent disclosure of the information you have requested.  If any of the exemption categories apply, the information will not be disclosed.  If there are references to a third party, they may be consulted prior to a decision being made on whether or not to disclose the information.  You will be informed if either of these is applicable, including your rights of appeal.

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If you have any queries you can contact me or write to: FOI, PO Box 4, Blackpool, FY1 1NA, or email us at [email address].  Please remember to quote your reference number when you contact us.

Kind regards

Information Governance Team
Governance and Partnerships | Blackpool Council |Number One| Bickerstaffe Square |Talbot Road |Blackpool |FY1 3AH

Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA
T: 01253 477477
E: [Blackpool Council request email]

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FOI, Blackpool Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Simpson

Please see attached.

Kind Regards

Information Governance Team
Governance and Partnerships | Blackpool Council |Number One| Bickerstaffe Square |Talbot Road |Blackpool |FY1 3AH

Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA
T: 01253 477477
E: [Blackpool Council request email]

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Dear FOI,

I find your answer unacceptable. Allow me to rephrase my question:

Please provide details, broken down by playground, of all equipment which is damaged, broken or otherwise unusable, and has been for at least three months.

Yours sincerely,

John Simpson

FOI, Blackpool Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Simpson

Please see response letter attached.

Kind Regards

Information Governance Team
Governance and Partnerships | Blackpool Council |Number One| Bickerstaffe Square |Talbot Road |Blackpool |FY1 3AH

Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA
T: 01253 477477
E: [Blackpool Council request email]

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Dear FOI,

I find your response utterly bemusing.

It is impossible for there to be 3724 pieces of playground equipment in Blackpool. There are 27 parks and playgrounds listed on your website which, by your assertion, is an average of 138 per park. My own local playground has just 7 (3 climbing frames, 3 swingsets and a rocker).

Perhaps I should be even more specific.

Please advise me how many pieces of playground equipment are due a repair. By playground equipment I refer to swings, climbing frames, slides, carousels and sensory items only.

I find it incomprehensible that the Council does not maintain a register of equipment which is out of order. At Stanley Park playground alone there are at least 5 pieces of playground equipment which have been out of use for 6 months or more.

Yours sincerely,

John Simpson

FOI, Blackpool Borough Council

Dear Mr Simpson

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – INFORMATION REQUEST

 

I am writing to confirm that we have now completed our search for the
information you requested on 22.07.2021.   Please accept my apologies for
the delay in responding to your request.

 

A copy of the information that you requested is shown below.

 

Please advise me how many pieces of playground equipment are due a repair.
By playground equipment I refer to swings, climbing frames, slides,
carousels and sensory items only.

 

The number of pieces of playground equipment that are due a repair are -
242.

 

Please be aware that any commercial use or other use such as publication
or sale may be a breach of copyright under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988 unless you obtain the copyright holder’s prior
permission. Not all of the information that the Council supplies to you
that is subject to copyright, will be the Council’s copyright.  You should
seek consent from the Council or the copyright holder as appropriate.  If
you wish to reuse the information supplied you should contact the Council
for advice on this.

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request you may ask for
an internal review and you should submit this in writing to: FOI Internal
Review, Blackpool Council, PO Box 4, Blackpool, FY1 1NA.  Your request for
internal review should be submitted within 40 working days of receipt by
you of this response.

 

If you are not happy with the outcome of the review, you have the right to
apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. 
You can contact the Information Commissioner at: Information
Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF, (www.ico.org.uk).

 

If you have any queries about this letter you can contact me, or write to:
FOI, PO Box 4, Blackpool, FY1 1NA, or email us at [email address]. 
Please remember to quote your reference number when you contact us.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Information Governance Team

Governance and Partnerships | Blackpool Council |Number One| Bickerstaffe
Square |Talbot Road |Blackpool |FY1 3AH

 

Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA

T: 01253 477477

E: [Blackpool Council request email]

 

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