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Play Grounds Re-Opening

Following the recent national announcement advising that play grounds can reopen from 4th July 2020, Petworth Town Council have reviewed the Government guidance for managing play grounds during Covid-19 and following a risk assessment process, the play grounds at Rosemary Gardens and Hampers Common will be re-opening from Friday 10th July.

Notices will be displayed at the play grounds and Petworth Town Council encourages all parents & guardians who choose to take children to the play grounds upon their re-opening to read these notices carefully prior to using the equipment.  For information, the notice will read as follows:

BE COVID-19 AWARE WHEN USING THIS PLAYGROUND

HYGIENE

Scientific advice suggests that the virus can survive for up to several days on some hard surfaces.

These risks are reduced when outdoors, where surfaces may be subject to UV light and/or rain. However, coronavirus could survive long enough on frequently used/touched outdoor surfaces to facilitate transmission.

We ask that you protect yourselves and the community by using hand sanitiser before you enter the park and regularly throughout your stay and on leaving the park. Wash your hands thoroughly when you get home for 20 seconds with soap and water.

We also encourage you or any child in your care to:

  • not touch your face.
  • cough/sneeze into a tissue then sanitize your hands.
  • not to put your mouth on any equipment or put your hands in your mouth.
  • not eat or drink in this playground.

Please place all litter including cleaning equipment, tissues, gloves and masks in the bins provided. If these bins are full then please take your rubbish home with you.

You can further help your community by rubbing down touch points on equipment that your child will be using or has used with suitable cleaning fluid.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Social distancing aims to reduce social interaction between people to minimise the opportunity for transmission of COVID-19.

You should aim to keep 2m apart from anyone who is not a member of your household. This may mean that you need to, or encourage your child or children to:

  • only have 1 adult supervising each family group.
  • wait at a distance until others have finished using the equipment
  • choose equipment that allows for a 2m distance between users, such as leaving an empty swing between each child.
  • avoid using benches that are already in use.

The “Tower” equipment at Hampers Common will remain closed and should not be used; it is felt that social distancing will be difficult on this piece of equipment hence the decision not to re-open it on the 10th July.

Petworth Town Council will monitor usage of the play grounds following the re-opening and asks all those who use the equipment to adhere to the above guidance.  Failure to do so may result in further closures.