EXCLUSIVE: Council vows to clean up Carr Lane play area

May 14 2008 by Matt Hurst, Hoylake and West Kirby News

WIRRAL Council has apologised to users of Hoylake’s Carr Lane fields after repeated complaints about scattered broken glass in the children’s playground.

The borough says it believes it knows who the offenders are and is currently making arrangements to stop them and, if possible, prosecute.

George Road resident Elizabeth Brunfitt often takes her seven grandchildren down to Carr Lane, where they like to play on the slides and swings.

But she says the youngsters’ fun has been spoiled because she has to keep them on such a tight rein to avoid any nasty cuts from the glass littered across the area.

The 51-year-old says she has contacted Wirral Council four times about the issue, but until last week never noticed a response.

Elizabeth told the News: “It was in a very bad state.

“There was glass everywhere, the children can’t play on the equipment and the adults have been trying to pick it up.

“I want to put them to shame because it shouldn’t take four phone calls.

“It should just take one phone call to come down and check the equipment, report back and get it done.”

Elizabeth says she became even more enraged when she discovered someone from the council had been down, but all they appeared to have done was brush the broken glass to one side.

She said: “It’s disgraceful to just leave it tucked up in the corner.”

The young age of her seven grandchildren - between seven months to eight-years-old - makes Elizabeth even more concerned.

She said: “I cut myself picking it up, so what will happen to the kids?

“They’ll get a glass cut and then they’ll have to go to A&E.

“It’s putting a child’s life at risk.”

In response, Wirral Council has apologised to Elizabeth and everyone else concerned about Carr Lane.

A spokesman for Wirral Council said: “We’re sorry about the recurring problems of broken glass appearing in the children’s play area at Carr Lane.

“We will ensure the glass is removed as a matter of urgency.”