Council to begin phased reopening of play areas in Flintshire this week

Playgrounds, community centres and outdoor gyms will be able to re-open in Flintshire from today, Monday, July 20.

Flintshire’s 172 playgrounds have been shut since the start of lockdown in March, is part of the latest round of measures to ease restrictions.

It’s expected all play areas will be back open by Saturday, July 25. 

A Flintshire Council spokesperson said: “Aura has been maintaining routine visual safety checks of all outdoor play areas, MUGAs (Multi-Use Games Areas) and wheeled play facilities during the lockdown. 

Servicing, repairs and cleansing have also taken place to ensure the play areas are safe and ready for children to return. 

The erection of safety signs and scheduled grass cutting will begin today and play area re-openings will be phased with an aim that all play areas will be open by Saturday 25 July.

These are open play areas and it will be the personal responsibility of users to maintain all appropriate hygiene standards and physical distancing requirements.”

The re-opening community centres will help local authorities provide summer holiday play schemes and childcare, the Welsh Government has said.

On Friday First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “From Monday, playgrounds and outdoor gyms will be able to reopen. Community centres will be able to increase their activity, helping local authorities provide summer holiday play schemes and childcare.

“While the removal of these restrictions allows these places to reopen, it does not require them to. The specific timings for reopening may vary from place to place as owners take assessments and make any necessary changes.

“As we take these cautious steps, no one should make the mistake of thinking the virus has gone away. We could find our hard work quickly undone unless we all go on playing our part, every day, and in every way we can, to keep Wales safe.”

Flintshire Council has said it is working with local Town and Community Councils to reinstate some of the Flintshire Summer Holiday Play Schemes for the last two weeks of the summer holidays – 16 to 28 August.

These play schemes will be delivered in line with the latest Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidance.

“Not all Town and Community Councils have been able to support this shortened provision this year, but a significant number have and plans are currently being finalised.”

“These schemes will be advertised on the Council’s website very shortly and promoted via the Flintshire Family Information Service to keep parents informed of where they are taking place and how they will operate.” A council spokesperson said. 

The Welsh Government has previously asked a number of businesses to begin preparing to reopen from 27 July, if the conditions allow. These are:

– Close contact services, including nail and beauty salons and businesses providing tanning services, massages, body piercings, tattooing, electrolysis or acupuncture.
– Indoor cinemas, museums, galleries and archive services.