Action demanded over 'dangerous' fencing (From Gazette Series)

Action demanded over 'dangerous' fencing

8:50am Thursday 4th December 2008 in

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COUNCILLORS are demanding action after fencing around an electrical substation in a children’s play area was declared dangerous by health and safety inspectors.

Members of Thornbury Town Council say they have been chasing Central Networks, who are responsible for the substation at the Chantry Road play area in Thornbury, for two years to get the work done.

The fencing, which is plastic, has been given a high risk rating by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) and councillors say it is inadequate for keeping people, particularly children, away from the substation.

Every year the ROSPA inspects Thornbury Town Council’s play equipment and the areas around them.

Cllr Lesley Jones, chairman of the playing fields and cemetery committee, said: "We have a report from ROSPA who annually inspect the town council's play equipment and they have said it is a dangerous risk.

"When they declare something as medium or high risk the town council usually acts to do something about it, but this is out of our hands.

"It has been about two years now since the town clerk first got in contact with Central Networks about the problem and all we get told it that it is on a list and it will be done eventually.

"Children could easily climb under or over the fence to gain entry. The plastic fencing they have there is totally inadequate and someone could get hurt."

Rebecca Bieniaszewska, spokeswoman for Central Networks, said: "Every substation is different because of the different equipment inside.

"At the time of its building an assessment was made about what shell it should have to make sure all the equipment is protected and to make sure people cannot enter it.

"If there is damage to the site that people have noticed they should call us."