Cyclists blamed for Splashpad damage

8:10pm Saturday 8th September 2012 in News By Tom Edwards

BUSY AND HAPPY: Hundreds of people at the Splashpad earlier in the summer. BUSY AND HAPPY: Hundreds of people at the Splashpad earlier in the summer.

ANGRY people living near Worcester’s popular Splashpad are blaming cyclists for damaging the surface – and have warned them to stay away.

Gheluvelt Park Friends, a community group which keeps a watch on the facility, says riders are ignoring the signs asking them not to cycle.

The outdoor water play facility, one of Worcester’s best known attractions, was closed for four days last month for emergency repair work.

The surface had been damaged by what city council chiefs called “wear and tear”, resulting in scores of disappointed families.

Dr Allan Barnatt, chairman of the friends group, said: “The reason for closure was repair of surface damage almost certainly caused by a cycle.

“Signs posted at either end of the Splashpad clearly show that bicycles, scooters, push chairs and footwear can damage the special non- slip-proof surface.

“Sadly, a minority of people disregard the signs and spoil the surface, resulting in closure while repairs are carried out, and these take time.

“To prevent further closures, people are asked to heed the signs.

“Anything rubber, such as tyres and pushchairs, can lead to surface damage and disappointment for the hundreds of children who enjoy this popular, free facility.”

He also said he believed cyclists who were often spoken to about their behaviour still return later on, damaging the surface. As your Worcester News reported last month, the four-day closure affected many people, including Sharen Thomas, a mum-of-three from Ross-on-Wye, who travelled 40 miles with her family only to find the Splashpad fenced off. The friends group will be keeping a close eye on the Splashpad to help avoid any repeats.

A spokesman for Worcester City Council said: “Attractions like this do get wear and tear and the necessary repairs were carried out as quickly as possible.”

The authority was unable to confirm if cyclists were to blame for the damage, where holes had started to appear on the surface.

Comments(17)

mayall8808 says...
8:56pm Sat 8 Sep 12

“To prevent further closures, people are asked to heed the signs.

Unfortunately the moron element of our society ignore everything.
If caught make them pay for the repairs, they won't do it again as being hit in the pocket hurts.

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Brer fox says...
9:19pm Sat 8 Sep 12

They are cyclists.No rules apply to cyclists. Its a well known fact.

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Saturn V says...
12:30am Sun 9 Sep 12

It's kids on BMX's.
No need to be a plank about it Brer fox.

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imustbeoldiwearacap says...
9:16am Sun 9 Sep 12

Brer fox wrote:
They are cyclists.No rules apply to cyclists. Its a well known fact.
It's a lazy headline! Grow up Brer fox!

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Hwicce says...
2:32pm Sun 9 Sep 12

They should put the fence back round it like the old pool had. Kept the kids in, and the dogs and cyclists out.

But that would be too easy.....

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Brer fox says...
8:47am Mon 10 Sep 12

Me grow up? I see cyclists every day ignore pedestrian crossings, red lights, the rules of the road and courtesy.

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bobabout says...
9:08am Mon 10 Sep 12

Of course we never see cars parked on footpaths, speeding or ignoring red lights - common courtesy seems absent everywhere

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Hwicce says...
9:25am Mon 10 Sep 12

I saw a guy walking his dog on a lead while cycleing up Ombersley Road thsi morning.

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Hwicce says...
9:27am Mon 10 Sep 12

We're quite happy that they all get ticketed (along with the cyclists).

You've only got to look at the stories about parking and the failure to enforce by the City Council to see that there is strong support for all proper enforcement of all the rules of the road.

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Name unknown says...
9:04am Tue 11 Sep 12

Brer fox wrote:
Me grow up? I see cyclists every day ignore pedestrian crossings, red lights, the rules of the road and courtesy.
Yes. You. Grow up.

I see people walking around and dropping litter every day - are we going to say it's a "well-known fact" that ALL pedestrians are litter louts?

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GroovyChick says...
1:01pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Why does nearly every article on WN always turn into a slanging match between readers!

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imustbeoldiwearacap says...
5:16pm Tue 11 Sep 12

GroovyChick wrote:
Why does nearly every article on WN always turn into a slanging match between readers!
Just because? And we enjoy it?

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jbarnes says...
9:07pm Tue 11 Sep 12

"He also said he believed cyclists who were often spoken to about their behaviour still return later on, damaging the surface."

speculation then and not actual proof.

“Anything rubber, such as tyres and pushchairs, can lead to surface damage and disappointment for the hundreds of children who enjoy this popular, free facility.”

a facility used predominantly by young children yet it can't withstand pushchair wheels? what a joke!

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imustbeoldiwearacap says...
8:24am Wed 12 Sep 12

To get back to the original issue - if the High Street is anything to go by, it's more likely to be bad installation rather than bikes, pushchairs, footwear or skateboards! After all WCC were unable to confirm whether bikes caused the problem (see last paragraph).

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grannieannie says...
11:11am Wed 12 Sep 12

My daughter took her 6 year old twins to the splash park a couple of weeks ago, two boys arrived in BMX bikes ordered all the little kids to move out of the way, so that they could ride up and down through the water. My grandson bravely told them they should n't be riding up and down, it was for small children to play in the water. They shouted and swore at him and made him cry, my daughter was running to the rescue, they swore at her then rode off. If you fence it off, I suppose they will lift bikes over, no respect for anything or anybody nowadays. Would it be an idea to create an undulating area the other side of the brook, against that old wall where they could ride up and down instead.

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More Tea Vicar says...
5:41pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Interesting that no one seems to have offered any proof, though.

This looks a little like the usual council story. They've installed equipment that isn't fit for purpose (like the riverside walk) and now they're looking for someone to blame.

Obviously riding on a swimming installation is wrong, and should be stopped. But the installation should surely be strong enough to withstand it.

And if the council can afford Trish Haines' and her friends' massive salaries, shouldn't it be able to afford wardens to deal with this?

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Vertis says...
11:38pm Thu 13 Sep 12

When the old pool was there and a small fence was put up to stop stunt cyclists, then a big fence to stop cyclists because the small one didnt work... Was it not documented so the designers with a lack of common sense could refer to these for their splash pad design??

I say 'lack of common sense' because most stunt cycles have names like 'rock hopper' and what do they put on the splash pad....a bunch of rocks...

Im not sure what they expected...maybe a peaceful Bill Oddy watching those stones for arctic penguins or something but who cares tax money is an ever replenishing supply of free cash to play with and never learn from the past costly expendatures. As long as theyre having fun with our dollar im happy. Maybe tomorrow they can try building a new bridge with no barriers on the side, i hear it makes the view better.

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