Seventeen Crawley play areas to reopen, despite a recent spike in coronavirus cases in the town

Seventeen council-run play areas are set to reopen this week after previously being closed during the coronavirus lockdown.

This is despite government figures which have shown that two-thirds of the new cases of coronavirus in West Sussex were detected in Crawley.

https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/health/crawley-urged-adhere-social-distancing-rules-2910464.

During a recent online Q&A session Peter Lamb, leader of Crawley Borough Council, announced the spike in cases and noted ‘a lack of following of social distancing’ in Crawley over recent weeks.

He also said the borough council had been criticised on social media for not opening its playgrounds last week, but confirmed some play areas would open on Wednesday and told parents they would be at risk if they used them.

Today (Monday, July 13) a spokesperson confirmed the council be was planning ‘a phased reopening’ of our play areas, beginning this week.

He said: “The 17 play areas below will reopen by Friday (17 July) and we look forward to welcoming people back safely, just in time for the summer holidays.”

The reopening play areas, some of which have multiple facilities on one site, are:

1) Bewbush Pocket Park under 7s, Bewbush Pocket Park over 7s, Bewbush MUGA,

2) Broadfield Barton play area, Broadfield Barton toddler, Broadfield Barton kickabout,

3) Dobbins Place, Ifield, Dobbins kickabout,

4) Furnace Green playing fields,

5) Gainsborough Road, Tilgate,

6) Goffs Park upper, Goffs Park lower,

7) Grattons Park, Pound Hill,

8) Ifield Green playing fields, Ifield Green playing fields youth area, Ifield Green playing fields kickabout,

9) Kidborough Road, Gossops Green,

10) Knepp Close, Pound Hill,

11) Langley Green playing fields,

12) Maidenbower playing fields, Maidenbower kickabout and youth area, Maidenbower assault course,

13) Stone Court, Maidenbower,

14) Northgate playing fields, Northgate playing fields, Northgate kickabout,

15) Three Bridges playing fields, Three Bridges MUGA,

16) West Green playing fields,

17) Lutyens Close, Bewbush.

The spokesperson continued: “The safety of all those using our play areas is our top priority. Please follow this guidance, which will be displayed at the entrance to all of our play areas: All users are responsible for following government guidelines and giving appropriate guidance to children on the use of equipment, maintain social distancing and avoid over-crowding, wipe down equipment before and after use, one person or family unit per piece of equipment at a time and allow others their turn, one adult per family group, and no food and drink please.

“Anyone failing to adhere to government guidelines may be asked to leave.

“Thanks for your patience. Further play areas will be reopened in phases in the coming weeks and we will announce them on our website at https://crawley.gov.uk/, Twitter and Facebook.”