Playground Closures, Vandalism, Injuries, and Inspections

The request was partially successful.

Dear Greenwich Borough Council,

I am requesting the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please provide the data for the period from April 1st, 2023 to March 31st, 2024:

1. Playground Closures:

The number of playgrounds permanently closed.

2. New Playgrounds:

The number of new playgrounds opened.

3. Reports of Vandalism:

The total number of vandalism reports in playgrounds.
If available, provide details of the types of vandalism reported (e.g., graffiti, damage to equipment).

4. Number of Injuries in Play Parks:

The total number of injuries reported in playgrounds, broken down by type of injury.
If available, a breakdown of injuries by specific equipment (e.g., swings, slides, climbing frames).

5. Inspection Frequency:

The frequency with which playgrounds are inspected by the council.

If any of this information is publicly available, I would appreciate it if you could direct me to the relevant resources. Please let me know if this request exceeds the cost limit for FOI requests, and I can refine the scope.

Thanks,
Jamie Dixon

foi, Greenwich Borough Council

Dear Mr Dixon,

 

FOI request: FOI-2993

 

Thank you for your request dated 22/11/2024

 

Your request will be answered by 20/12/2024

 

If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the
reference number above.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

David White

Head of Information, Safety and Community Services

Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ

8 [1]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

 

ü Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

 

show quoted sections

foi, Greenwich Borough Council

Dear Mr Dixon,

 

FOI request: FOI-2993

Thank you for your request dated 22/11/2024

 

Our response is as follows:

I am requesting the following information under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000. Please provide the data for the period from April 1st, 2023 to
March 31st, 2024:

 

Housing safer communities directorate response:

Parks & open spaces directorate response:

 

1. Playground Closures:

The number of playgrounds permanently closed

One.

None

 

2. New Playgrounds:

The number of new playgrounds opened

Four in the last 12 months.

None

 

3. Reports of Vandalism:

The total number of vandalism reports in playgrounds.

If available, provide details of the types of vandalism reported (e.g.,
graffiti, damage to equipment).

Only minor acts of vandalism to wet pour surfacing and the dogs chewing
swing seats. Not logged.

None

 

4. Number of Injuries in Play Parks:

The total number of injuries reported in playgrounds, broken down by type
of injury.

If available, a breakdown of injuries by specific equipment (e.g., swings,
slides, climbing frames).

Nil reported.

There were no injuries reported in relation to our public parks, as they
are unstaffed.

There were 11 injuries recorded within our Adventure Play Centres, which
are free to enter, supervised playgrounds with staff led activities taking
place, as well as free play elements.

6 injuries whilst using sports pitches or football cage.

3 injuries whilst using the climbing frames

2 injuries from the swings

 

5. Inspection Frequency:

The frequency with which playgrounds are inspected by the council.

Weekly routine inspections.

Monthly operators’ inspections by qualified PII inspectors.

Annual ROSPA inspections.

Visual checks of playground equipment and the condition of the site are
undertaken on a weekly basis by the Park Rangers Team for sites within our
public parks. Operational inspections are undertaken every 2 months by the
Parks Playground Officer. An annual inspection is undertaken on the play
equipment by an independent play inspector once a year.

For our Adventure Play Centres, daily checks are carried out by staff on
site, as well as yearly inspections which are carried out by specialist
contractors.

 

If you have any queries about this correspondence, please contact me,
quoting the reference number above.

If you are not satisfied with our response to your request, you can ask
for an Internal Review.  Internal review requests must be submitted within
two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original
request.  If you wish to do this, please contact us in writing, setting
out why you are dissatisfied.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Internal Review, you may
apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. 
Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the
Internal Review procedure provided by the Council. You can contact the ICO
by emailing [1][email address], or by post at Customer Contact,
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
SK9 5AF.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

David White

Head of Information, Safety and Community Services

Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ

8 [2]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

ü Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

 

 

From: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Sent: 22 November 2024 12:36
To: 'Jamie Dixon' <[FOI #1206750 email]>
Cc: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Playground Closures,
Vandalism, Injuries, and Inspections

 

Dear Mr Dixon,

 

FOI request: FOI-2993

 

Thank you for your request dated 22/11/2024

 

Your request will be answered by 20/12/2024

 

If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the
reference number above.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

David White

Head of Information, Safety and Community Services

Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ

8 [3]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

 

ü Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

 

show quoted sections