Removal of the Multiplay Equipment from the Playing Field

Following a recent act of minor vandalism, the Parish Council decided that the multi-play equipment in the Playing Field was no longer safe for children to use and so have removed this piece of equipment.  Removal of the equipment revealed that all the main supports, apart from the one under the central bridge, were rotting badly.

The Parish Council is aware that some questions have been raised as to how the multi-play equipment, which was installed in 2013, has deteriorated so quickly.  The money for the equipment – the multi-play and the zip wire – was raised by a group of young mothers who called themselves “Keep on the Grass”.  This group wished to use a local company to design and install the multi-play equipment rather than one of the large play equipment manufacturers and the Parish Council agreed to this.

The company produced an innovative design for the multi-play equipment that incorporated some locally-donated tree trunks as the main supports (as well as a small bridge designed by Richard La Trobe Bateman).  Unfortunately, within a couple of years it became clear that the wood for the main supports had not been properly treated before being installed and the supports began to show evidence of rotting where they entered the ground.

Attempts were made to correct this, including painting the supports with rubberised paint, but there is only a limited amount that can be done if the wood is not properly treated before installation.  It should be noted that the support for the central bridge was made of treated wood and showed no sign of any rot on removal.

The Parish Council is planning to replace the multi-play with a new piece of equipment.  To avoid the problems with the equipment just removed, the Parish Council will purchase the new equipment from a recognised play equipment manufacturer and will install metal equipment so that there is no danger of it rotting.  It is worth noting that the metal swings were installed in the 1950s and show no signs of deteriorating.  

The Parish Council is continuing to raise funds to replace the multi-play and details can be found on Local News page. 

Batcombe Film Society - "BlacKkKlansman"

Friday October 25th 2019

Time: 7.15pm for 7.45pm 

Place: The Jubilee Hall, Batcombe

Description: The third film of the new season is BlacKkKlansman (2018/132 mins/15), the astonishing true story of one of America's riskiest undercover investigations, in which African-American police detective Ron Stallworth applied for membership to the Ku Klux Klan.  Includes racist violence and very strong language.  The programme for the season and details of how to join can be downloaded from the Clubs and Societies page.

More Events

June Parish Council Meeting

Wednesday June 4th

Time: 8.00pm

Place: The Old School, Batcombe

Description:  The monthly Parish Council meeting.  Members of the public are welcome to attend.  The Agenda and Minutes of previous meetings can be downloaded from the Minutes and Agendas page a week before the meeting.

Find out more about parish events.