Residents young and old can start to enjoy play areas and outdoor gyms as lock-down restrictions are eased.
Bicester Town Council has re-opened some of its play and exercise facilities, but people are being urged to remain cautious and vigilant.
Before any play areas is reopened all equipment has been checked and cleaned and new signs reminding people to respect social distancing rules. Signs will indicate the maximum number of people, adults and children, who should be in the play areas at any one time.
Councillors and staff helped get the play areas ready to open and have also installed hand sanitiser stations at newly opened parks.
People are being reminded that council staff do not have the capacity to monitor or clean play equipment and it will be down to parents and users to ensure the equipment is cleaned before use.
Mayor Cllr Jason Slaymaker said: “We are delighted to be able to start opening play areas, I know children have desperately missed them.
“But we must also ask people to respect social distancing rules whilst they have fun.
“The council has funded the new hand sanitising equipment and we ask people to please look after it because it will not be replaced if it is misused. This equipment is there to try and keep everyone safe in these very uncertain times.
“We hope everyone will enjoy the play areas and we will endeavour to open more over the coming weeks.”
When using play areas:
- children’s hands should be washed/sanitised before and after using the equipment and you may wish to wipe equipment down before and after use
- supervise children closely at all times to maintain social distancing – two metres is recommended
- parents and carers must also maintain social distancing
- play areas may be in high demand so please be patient.
- Don’t enter any play enclosures that are so busy that social distancing will not possible.
- don’t use play equipment if you or if anyone in your household or support bubble has coronavirus or is showing symptoms
- If you have health vulnerabilities avoid using these confined, busy spaces at this time
In total Bicester Town Council look after more than 60 play areas and outdoor gyms and they will only be reopened once inspections have taken place and new signs and hand sanitising stations installed.
Play areas were closed as part of the full lock-down announced by the government in March.
Picture attached: Cllr Zoe Mclernon with the council’s outdoors team helping to get parks ready to re-open
Last Updated 11 September 2020
