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14

Apr 2021

Last Updated: 14/04/2021
Community
Community

Masham parents frustrated as play area remains closed

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 14 Apr, 2021
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Flooding has caused Tittlibottle Park to close intermittently in recent years. It has currently been closed for five months and parents say the council is not doing enough to tackle the longstanding drainage issues.

masham-park

Masham residents have expressed frustration that one of the town's play areas has remained closed for five months.

Tittlibottle Park, near the cricket ground, initially closed in November 2019 due to drainage issues.

By the time it had dried out, all playgrounds had closed due to covid.

It reopened in July last year, with a small section fenced off, but closed again in November and has stayed shut since due to the condition of the ground.

Flooding has caused the park to close intermittently a number of times in few years.

Local parents have accused Harrogate Borough Council of not doing enough to make it usable once again.

The play area sits on a flood plain for the River Ure and often collects water flowing from higher ground. It is also close to a handful of other drainage issues all of these are factors in the flooding.



The loss of this play area has been particularly keenly felt by the local community during lockdown.

Bronwen Thomas, a local parent, visited the park at least once a week with her three boys before it closed. She said they had played at the playground near The Oaks instead but added:.

"There are fewer facilities there though, and it is smaller and more exposed to the elements. More recently there has also been the issue of social distancing, which is much harder in the smaller space.
"I’d like to see the council engage more with the community to come up with a joint solution. Local people have invaluable knowledge of the site and its issues and may be able to provide insight that the council currently lacks."


Another parent, Iain Burgess, has contacted Richard Cooper, the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, in the hope of finding a solution. He said:

"I have emailed Mr Cooper but his response didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Unless something is done it will only keep happening. There needs to be action to keep it open.
"It's such a shame, my son used to meet his friends there after school and now they have to go elsewhere. It's incredibly frustrating that nothing is being done."





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Masham Parish Council said it is in talks with Harrogate Borough Council to find a solution. But no confirmed reopening date has been given.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council, said:

"We are working with the land owner (Swinton Estate) and the leaseholder (Masham Town Council) to find a more permanent solution.
"The park is monitored regularly and will either open partially or fully depending on the current level of flooding, subject to any covid restrictions."