Childminders turn backs on "deathtrap" park

Thursday 01 February 2018

Missing swings, rotting wood, risky gaps, trip hazards… and all in a play area for the island’s tiniest tots.

These are just a few of the reasons Jersey childminders say they’re turning their backs on St Andrew’s Park.

The park had been a firm favourite for many years – not only due to its play area, but the surrounding garden walks which were “perfect for very little legs.”

But members of Out and About Childminders told Express that it had fallen into such a state of disrepair that it would no longer pass their risk assessments. 

“The park looks like it has been left to rot: weeds growing up between the floors, the wooden play frame is crumbling - you can actually crumble bits off! The footsteps and beams are hanging off, so it’s not safe for children to cross the step bridge. Some of them are barley attached and spin in place so it’s not stable for small children to use. It’s dangerous!” Christina Jandron from the group explained. 

Pictured: A trip hazard created by bordering over a rotting gap (top left) and planks falling off a rot on a climbing frame step ladder (right).

Photographs shared with Express by another registered childminder showed a “trip hazard” created where a rotting gap had been patched over with a plank of wood, a set of swings left unrepaired “for months”, and a play ‘boat’ stripped of its wheel and mast leaving only the hull.

Speaking anonymously, she said that she hadn’t been back since taking the photos in December.

Ms Jandron described the state of the First Tower-based playground as a “huge shame” because it meant that pre-schoolers were “missing out” on what would otherwise be a “fantastic park.”

Pictured: Gaps in a climbing frame created by rot created a spot where little feet could get trapped on one of the pieces of apparatus.

“[St Andrew’s Park] gave tons opportunities to learn through playing and exploring on the equipment there as it is actually doable for their age!  A lot of parks now in Jersey offer very little in terms of variety and skills children can learn while exploring the park. It was such a lovely park to take the toddlers to and for them to be safe in a gated park yet have freedom to explore what’s there and be surrounded by a lovely green area... Risk assessment-wise, many childminders no longer use this park as it’s dangerous and we can’t risk the children harming themselves,” she said.

But improvements are on their way, according to St Helier Parks Director, Tony Andrews.

He told Express that he was due to meet play area providers this week “with a view to make some changes on several of the older pieces.” 

Pictured: Minders complained of missing swings (top left) and a sail-less boat in the playground (top right), but St Helier's Park Director says replacements for older equipment may be on the agenda. 

And there’ll be some green changes too.

“We have just committed to provide two gardeners for several days a week to start working through the borders and introduce new plantings where appropriate including more of the hardy perennials we introduced recently that give a good splash of colour.

“We are also hoping to increase the wild flower areas in the centre of the park as these have proved very popular, especially with the youngsters who seem to enjoy the butterflies and other bugs in this location,” Mr Andrews added. 

Pictured: Wild flower areas could be improved to help attract more wildlife - a feature enjoyed by children in the park.

How far those changes go will be down to Parish budgets – the park is looked after by the Parish of St Helier, rather than the States’ Department for Infrastructure, which recently announced plans to revamp Coronation Park.

Speaking about what they would like to see in a renewed park area, one childminder, who wished to remain anonymous, said that she hoped any improvements would embrace natural materials.

“Rather than fill it with lots of metal and plastic, they could be a little forward thinking and replace it with natural landscaping and materials which would make a great area for children of all ages to enjoy and interact,” she said.

Pictured: There might be hope yet for Jersey's oldest park, with the Parish of St Helier pledging numerous improvements. (Google Maps)

Ms Jandron, meanwhile, said that she was happy with the current area, but that it would benefit from extra parking, better disabled access, and, of course, getting rid of the rot.

“The park design overall is great – swings suited for all ages, slides suited for toddlers. and then an older children slide, tunnels and bridges to cross, and even a small play kitchen - everything we would want in a park, just left to rot! Possibly a little more parking would be great.

“Jersey is in great need of more wheelchair friendly playgrounds for children or children with limited mobility. They should have more opportunity to join their peers playing and enjoy swings, slides and climbing!”