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Welcome to Wetherby Town Council

Nidd Approach Swings

During a routine inspection in May 2019 we became aware that the swing frames at Nidd Approach had movement in them and were no longer secure. Our Town Handyman carried out some excavation works to try and understand what had happened. He found that the foundations had failed, and the concrete could, in places, be scooped out by hand.

As the foundations are underground there is no way of checking their condition and there was no way of predicting when they would fail. All the Town Council’s play equipment is regularly checked by the Town Handyman who visits each site several times a week and the swings were checked by an external RPII accredited inspector in October 2018, with no concerns raised at that time.  
The swing units are very old and it may be that increased use of the site, since the installation of the new equipment, had brought the foundations to the end of their lifespan.

The Town Council is now carrying out a consultation to find out what sort of new swings the users of Nidd Approach would like installing. Once opinions are gathered we will obtain quotations for a new unit and then secure the funding to allow new swing to be installed. 
Swing Survey



 

Playground Improvement Project

Wetherby Town Council owns and maintains most of the parks and open, green space recreational facilities in Wetherby. It's portfolio includes three children’s equipped play areas:

  • King George’s Field (Scaur Bank).
  • Masons Field.
  • Nidd Approach.

In 2016 the Town Council began a major project to renovate the playgrounds. After two years of planning the project culminated in works being undertaken by Kompan and the grand opening of all three sites being held on 13th October 2018.

Final Designs

 


 

Masons Field
The Town Council was delighted to have secured funding from the Wetherby District Lions Club who paid for one of the key features in the new playground – an exciting climbing frame chosen by the young people of Wetherby.

Two existing springers were kept at this site, but all other equipment was replaced. The initial design was tweaked to incorporate more inclusive items of equipment.

The roadside hedge was taken out and an extended playground area secured with a metal, bow-topped fence. 
Scaur Bank

The playground was made larger and the existing fencing was replaced with a metal, bow-topped version. 

Most of the equipment was replaced although the large, spider climbing net was refurbished with new, rainbow coloured rope.
New bark safety surfacing was used. 


Scaur Bank - Final Design

 



Nidd Approach
A new, wooden jungle climber unit and a see-saw was installed. All the existing equipment remained but was re-painted and new safety surfacing was installed underneath it. 
A natural coloured, bonded rubber chipping surface was used at this site. 

It was agreed not to progress proposals for a goal end / ball games equipment at Nidd Approach. 

 

Design Consultation

Seven playground equipment supply companies submitted designs for the Council's consideration and these can be viewed using the links below. 
Each company used the design brief given by the Town Council when preparing their designs. 

Feedback from the public and from local children helped the Council to pick its preferred supplier - Kompan. 
The Council's Property Committee considered a detailed report analysing the public feedback received on the preliminary designs. This report can be viewed here.

The Council has since been working with Kompan to refine and implement the designs.

Fawns Playtime's designs can be viewed here.
HAGS SMP's designs can be viewed here: Masons Field | Scaur Bank | Nidd Approach
Kompan's preliminary designs can be viewed here: Masons Field | Scaur Bank | Nidd Approach
Playscheme's designs can be viewed here: Masons Field | Scaur Bank | Nidd Approach
Sovereign Play's designs can be viewed here: Masons Field Metal | Masons Field Wood | Scaur Bank | Nidd Approach
Streetscape Products' designs can be viewed here.
Sutcliffe Play's designs can be viewed here: Masons Field | Scaur Bank | Nidd Approach

Design Brief


The Council held a preliminary consultation at the end of 2016 and received feedback from over 300 people which has been used to inform our design brief. 
We held an assembly at Crossley Street School, children at St. Joseph's designed their 'perfect' playground for homework, Wetherby High School students completed an online survey in their IT lessons and feedback was received from 150 members of the public.
The design brief includes feedback broken down in to four sections; Key Stage 1 (ages 4-7), Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11), Key Stage 3 (ages 11-15) and adults so that the playground companies can see what appeals to the different age groups in our town. 
The design brief was sent to 8 playground equipment suppliers who then visited the Council's three sites at the start of October 2017 and used the information in the document and their experiences on the site to inform their proposals. 

You can read the design brief here.