Vandalism leads to play area being closed all Summer

The children’s play equipment in Holden Park, Oakworth has been inaccessible since early Summer, when vandals ripped up the surface under the play equipment – making it unsafe to use.

It has meant that the play area was boarded off by Bradford Council, which operates the park, and remained shut through the whole length of the Summer holidays.

The damage caused to the play area earlier this Summer (Image: Oakworth Primary School)

But one local Councillor has been told work to repair the play space, which includes a climbing tower as well as other traditional play equipment, will start as soon as next week.

Local Councillor Rebecca Poulsen (Cons, Worth Valley) raised the issue at a meeting of Bradford Council’s Executive on Tuesday.

The Executive were being given an update on a £6m scheme to repair and refurbish play spaces throughout the District.

The third wave of this work will see almost 100 play areas upgraded in the near future.

By the end of the project, which began in 2019, around 90 per cent of Bradford’s play areas will have had work done.

At the meeting Cllr Poulsen, leader of the Conservatives on Bradford Council, highlighted how urgent repairs are needed in some areas.

Councillor Rebecca Poulsen at the fenced off play area (Image: (Councillor Rebecca Poulsen))

She said: “The poor children of Oakworth have spent all Summer with no play facilities because the only play area has been boarded up due to vandalism earlier this Summer.

“When will Oakworth have the work done? This is the only play ground in this whole area.”

Phil Barker, Assistant Director for Culture, Sport & Leisure, told Cllr Poulsen that work will take place in Oakworth within the next two months.

Cllr Poulsen told the Telegraph & Argus that after the meeting she was contacted by officers who informed her contractors will be on site next week to install a new surface to the play space.

She added: “The park has been subject to anti-social behaviour and vandalism and we are trying to get the CCTV looked at that is already in the park to make sure it is pointing to the areas most targeted.

Vandalism in Holden Park (Image: Oakworth Primary School)

“I know police are also patrolling the park.

“What is so sad is this playground has been closed all summer holiday so the children have had no-where to play.”

Holden Park, also known as Oakworth Park, is one of the most unusual public parks in the Bradford District.

It is most famous for its series of artificial caves, grottos and hidden pathways, which stand alongside more traditional park facilities such as the play area and bowling green.