Play safety angst

SHELLHARBOUR grandparents have expressed concern over child safety issues at the Bardsley Park playground area because of the lack of a fence around the playground area.

The issue first arose last year when the playground area was moved away from the beachfront, closer to the road to minimise salt corrosion of the playground equipment. Local grandparents June and Keith Williams who take their grandchildren to Bardsley Park to play say the matter of child safety is of paramount importance.

"The way the cars park along Wollongong Street in front of the playground and the speed with which they come through the roundabout is very dangerous," Mrs Williams said.

"There are blind spots all along there and all it would take is for one child to run out between the cars to create a potential disaster.

"There's also about to be some demolition and building works starting next door to the park. "The fence was supposed to be completed by February 28 and so far there is no sign of anything happening.

"There's not even a temporary fence in place to protect the children." Another local grandfather, Leo Yoechevich claims that cars speed through the roundabout next to the park.

"This is my local playground where I bring the grandkids," Mr Yoechevich said.

"Their safety should priority number 1."

A spokesperson for Shellharbour City Council said that while they understood the concerns expressed by some members of the community, work on the fencing project at Bardsley Park had been delayed due to the excessive rains over the last few weeks.

"Council staff are constantly monitoring the ground condition at Bardsley Park, but unfortunately it is still too wet to start work on the fence," the spokesperson said.