Disabled woman worried she won’t be able to use new £75k park but council say it’s not finished yet

A disabled woman is concerned she won’t be able to use a new £75k park in Coulby Newham.

The resident, who wants to remain anonymous, has raised the alarm over the uneven surface at a new play area off Newham Way. However, a Middlesbrough Council spokesperson said it remains under construction.

That didn’t stop children from using the park after signs weren’t put up when contractors left – however, there are now warnings to keep out. Residents have even branded it “ankle-break park” over their safety concerns.

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One resident said: “What a state – the ground is so uneven. They’ve taken all the high railings down so all the children in the area are using it because it’s a novelty having something to do. There is rubber matting down that the children are tripping over.

“I’m a wheelchair user so I can’t take my grandchildren to the park because it’s lethal, my wheelchair would tip over, it’s that bad.”

The council is spending some of the cash from its £21.9m Towns Fund allocation across Middlesbrough to fix up parks and pavements. This includes £75k for the new Coulby Newham park, £50k for Glebe Road Park, and £32k for the Thorntree Park play area and multi-use games area.

Looking at the park in its current state, the resident said: “It’s what I would call a selective park. It’s unsafe with regards to the ground being so uneven. As long as you have got perfect vision, perfect hearing and perfect balance you’re fine, you can go in the park, enjoy yourself and play.

“But if you have a child that comes along, like my granddaughter who is hypermobile or my grandson who is neurodiverse – there are balance and sight issues – they would break their ankles. On Facebook, it’s been called ankle-break park. I can’t go in as a guardian to make sure the children are safe because my wheelchair would be tipped over and they’d be looking after me rather than the other way around.”

She wants to see the ground leveled and the entrance moved away from opposite the main road.

A council spokesperson said: “The new play park for Coulby Newham remains under construction and we would ask members of the public not to enter the site until it is complete.

“Additional security and signage have been added to the site to make this clear to visitors and we are very much looking forward to opening the park for all once all of the construction works are finished.”

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