CALLS have been made for Bromsgrove District Council to provide hand sanitiser at its play areas which opened last week.
The Standard was contacted by a parent who said he was in Sanders Park over the weekend and, as well as no hand sanitiser available, the play area was ‘overcrowded’.
He suggested the authority should also be policing the number of people on equipment and added he felt there should be sanitiser at the entrance to the play area for children to use before and after going on the equipment.
He claimed the authority was breaching Government guidelines by not providing it but the authority said this was not the case.
The guidance on the Government’s website is unclear.
It says operators should ‘encourage parents to bring hand sanitiser gel or wipes to clean their children’s hands’ and ‘encourage outdoor gym users to bring their own towel and hygiene products and wipe down equipment after use’ .
It also adds – ‘where practical’ – hand sanitiser (automated where possible) or hand washing facilities should be supplied at entry and exit points, in addition to public toilets/washrooms.
A Bromsgrove District Council spokesperson said: “Government guidance recommends that people wash or sanitise their hands regularly and the onus is on individuals to arrange to do this by carrying hand wipes or sanitiser with them for instances when hand washing facilities or hand sanitiser is not publicly available.
“It is not law for us to provide this and we have installed numerous signs on our play areas reminding people of this and also to be mindful of social distancing when using our facilities.
“We would expect people to act responsibly in such times as these to keep themselves and others safe.”
When the play areas opened last week, the council advised parents to take wipes or sanitiser along and to use their own judgement with regard to social distancing,
They advise children avoid the play areas if they are busy and mean youngsters are playing ‘too close together’.
* HAVE you taken your children to any of the play areas across Bromsgrove district since they reopened? What has been your experience? Do you feel the council has put enough measures in place? Email your views to [email protected]
