‘Deathtrap’ playground (From Croydon Guardian)

‘Deathtrap’ playground

10:24am Monday 14th August 2006 in News By Sami Mokbel

A children's playground has been labelled a "death trap" by a mother after she watched it fall apart.

Charlotte Rabjohn watched in horror as the wooden roof of a small climbing frame at Addington Park, on Gravel Hill, collapsed and nearly fell on her two-year-old son last month.

Mrs Rabjohn says if the roof had fallen on her son it would have killed him as the slab of wood that fell off the play apparatus was so heavy it took three adults to lift it down safely.

For the mum-of-two the incident was the last straw, prompting her to e-mail Croydon Council, who are responsible for the park's upkeep, to complain about the state of the park she claims is "in complete disrepair and a danger to the children who play in it".

In addition to the collapsing climbing frame, Mrs Rabjohn complained the grass was too long, littered with broken glass and demanded the removal of dangerous metal stumps left in the ground where play equipment used to be.

The council has since repaired the climbing frame and has also tackled the other issues in the complaint.

But Mrs Rabjohn says it is too little too late. She said: "If the roof had fallen on a young child's head I am in no doubt it would kill them.

"I go to that park a lot and it's been in this state for a while now and it has always been in a bit of a mess. I appreciate them cleaning the park but it shouldn't have been allowed to get in such a bad way in the first place."

The council has blamed vandalism for the roof incident and the poor general state of the park. A spokesman said: "It is a matter of great regret to the council that people who want to enjoy our parks, especially with children, can be prevented from doing so by the thoughtless action of those who vandalise. We naturally expect normal wear and tear from good use.

"We were particularly concerned to learn of the incident with the roof. However, this too appears to have been vandalised."