DOG fouling has become a problem in a recently opened play park.
A completely refurbished Wesley Terrance Play Area, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, was reopened last month after the original equipment was deemed unsafe two years ago, but already it has been blighted by irresponsible pet owners.
The play park committee met last week for the first time since Covid-19 restrictions were put in place in March and had identified a number of ideas to further improve the facility, the parish council heard at its September meeting. Parish council clerk Judith Mashiter said £3,960 remained in the group’s fundraising pot after the equipment had been paid for.
She said: “Overall consensus from the group is that they want a metal gate and a wooden fence at the entrance.”
The group had also requested a new picnic table and a bicycle rack.
Mrs Mashiter added: “At the moment they say because the sign says bikes aren’t allowed in the park, bikes are abandoned at the gate haphazardly. It would be better if they were parked inside the play area. They also want to look again at the rule on bikes. A few of them say that path is an ideal surface, level and safe, for children to learn to ride bikes.”
In addition, the group had asked that the litter bins be removed to prevent access to a stile that links the park to a neighbouring field.
Ms Mashiter said: “It used to be a stile when children were allowed to go from the play area into the agricultural field to play football so there is no reason for that to be there. Apparently, it is used at the moment for people with children to climb over to walk their dogs while the children are playing in the play park and that is something they want addressing anyway. There is concern about reports of dog fouling in the play park.”
Cllr John Millar said: “As it is no great expense and I am concerned about the fact that dogs are fouling in the new playground, I think we could arrange to get a sign ‘no dogs allowed’ asap.”
Mrs Mashiter said the group wants to spend any remaining cash on a “grand reopening party” .
