Playground Closures, Vandalism, Injuries, and Inspections

The request was partially successful.

Dear Croydon 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

croydon@infreemation.co.uk, Croydon Borough Council

Information Team Croydon
Digital Services
Assistant Chief Executive Directorate
Bernard Wetherill House
7th Floor, Zone B
Croydon
CR0 1EA

Contact: Information Team
[email address]

 

Dear Jamie Dixon

Request FOI/11188

Further to your request received on 22/11/2024, I confirm that the Council
has now considered your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000. For ease of reference, I will now address each of your questions in
turn.

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.

4

2. New Playgrounds:

The number of new playgrounds opened.

1 new site 5new playgrounds replacing old for new, 4 replacing old in
2025.

3. Reports of Vandalism:

The total number of vandalism reports in playgrounds.

We are unable to provide due to number of reports over 5 years not logged.

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).

Fell off basket swing on to damaged
18/10/2019 Purley Way PF safety surface
18/11/2019 Thornton Heath Child fallen from climbing frame / slide
21/01/2020 Wilford Road Child tripped on safety surfacing
05/08/2020 South Croydon Rec flat swing chain broke while in use
03/03/2021 Canterbury Road Rec fall on safety surfacing
child fell on black glass on black safety
13/06/2021 Queen Elizabeth Drive surface
05/08/2021 Trumble Gardens fall at end of slide broken grass matting
09/06/2022 Selsdon Rec trip over weeds

5. Inspection Frequency:

Visual inspections – 2 weekly
Operational – monthly / 2 monthly Nov- Feb
Annual independent inspections

The frequency with which playgrounds are inspected by the council.

Visual inspections – 2 weekly
 

The Council publishes Access to Information requests and responses on its
online Disclosure Log. (Any request included within this log will be
anonymised appropriately)

To view the Council’s Disclosure Log, please visit our website available
here:

[1]The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act | Croydon Council
(disclosure-log.co.uk)

 

If you are dissatisfied with the way the Council has handled your request
under the Freedom of Information Act, you may ask for an internal review.
This should be submitted to us within 40 working days of this response.
You can do this by outlining the details of your complaint by:

 

Email:        [2][email address]

 

Writing:     Information Team

London Borough of Croydon

Bernard Weatherill House

Floor 3 - Zone E

8 Mint Walk

Croydon, CR0 1EA

 

Any requests received after the 40 working day time limit will be
considered only at the discretion of the council.

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire, SK9 5AF

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Information Team

Croydon Digital Services

Assistant Chief Executive Directorate

Bernard Wetherill House,

Mint Walk,

Croydon,

CR0 1EA

 

 

[3][email address]

[4][email address]

 

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