By Isle of Wight Observer
An Island councillor has expressed his frustration that a well-loved playground will not open for the eighth year running.
Cllr Geoff Brodie has slammed the IW Council because the Pan Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) will again be closed to local children for the upcoming summer school holidays.
The MUGA was built with IW Council and housing association funds nearly 20 years ago for shared use between the former Downside Middle School and – out of school hours – the local community.
However, when Barton Primary School moved to the site in 2016 governors decided they could not allow community access due to alleged anti-social behaviour issues. Cllr Brodie arranged an evening warden service, but this did not satisfy the governors.
The MUGA has since been allowed to deteriorate and County Hall’s insurers will not allow it to be used. It is now locked up, although children climb over the high fencing to use the still-popular facility.
Community grants are available to upgrade the facility, but County Hall needs to make appropriate legal agreements. However, securing a leasing arrangement that recognises it is both a school and community resource has now taken more than seven months with no end in sight.
Cllr Brodie said: “This is just so frustrating. I have been pushing for this for seven years now, but County Hall have made it so difficult. This is an area where many kids don’t get holidays away and play facilities are so important. We get warm words from Council leaderships about addressing deprivation and such like, but when it comes down to it little ever really happens. Frankly it’s a total disgrace.”
An Isle of Wight Council spokesman responded: “We’re working on the legal processes for this transfer, including obtaining consent from the Department of Education to issue the lease. The application has been submitted and we are waiting for the outcome.
“We share Cllr Brodie’s commitment to improving facilities for local children and are doing our best to expedite this.”