Highland Council convener's pledge on new play equipment at Kingussie play park
Action has been promised to Kingussie children who have been deprived of much-loved play equipment following a threat of legal action.
The playpark in question is at the top of Dunbarry Brae in the Badenoch capital.
Highland council workmen suddenly appeared recently and cut up a climbing frame.
“It was just taken apart,” said one of the mothers, Amanda MacLeod.
“The men used a chainsaw to dismantle a piece of equipment which is already such a rarity nowadays.
"Apparently the council employees were given just three days to do it because it has come to light that the ground belongs to housing plots situated below the area.
“This was the largest remaining piece of equipment left at the park for the children to enjoy. It was done without any advanced warning and the children are upset.
"Now at the park there are two baby swings, two older children’s swings and a baby see-saw – we lost our chute a few months back due to a health and safety and risk assessment.
“We’re all concerned, because our younger generation have already had such a disruptive 18months due to the Covid lockdown, school closures, unemployment for parents and so on.
“For some children this is the only release they have left, which has implications too regarding their mental health wellbeing.”
She added that it had been frustrating for the families with the town currently having no community council to turn to. The organisation has gone into abeyance temporarily.
Highland Council convener and local member Bill Lobban was approached and told the Strathy: “The council was forced to urgently remove a piece of equipment from the Dunbarry Children’s playpark following a threat of legal action as apparently we did not own the site.
“But the families’ local councillors will be hopefully proposing replacement with a new piece of equipment as soon as possible.”
