All play areas now re-opened in Hartlepool - here are the rules that users have to follow

It comes after play areas on Seaton Carew front and in Ward Jackson Park, Rossmere Park, Clavering and King George V Recreation Ground reopened earlier this month.

Now the rest of the council play areas have joined them in reopening following a deep clean of all the equipment and some alterations for social distancing.

Council chiefs are urging people to use the facilities safely and treat them with respect.

Sarah Scarr, the council’s heritage and countryside manager, said: “We would once again like to thank people for their patience and understanding whilst these facilities were closed for public safety reasons as a result of the pandemic.

“We are pleased that we are now in a position to reopen the rest of our play areas, but it’s vital that people use them safely to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“Signs setting out the rules for using the play areas safely have been put up in all the locations and it’s essential that people follow those rules at all times.”

Council officials are warning the facilities will be immediately closed again should people fail to follow social distancing rules, or if any vandalism or anti-social behaviour occurs, as has been the case in the past.

The play areas had previously been closed by the council towards the end of March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In May council chiefs were forced to issue an appeal to respect the restrictions at play areas after cordons had been removed in some places to gain access.

This followed reports from several parts of the town – including Seaton Carew, Rossmere Park and Oxford Road – of increasing numbers of children’s play area use, despite them being closed.

Council chiefs announced the initial play area reopenings, along with the easing of restrictions on council car parks and toilet facilities, at the start of July.

However following the reopenings, public toilets at Rossmere Park and Ward Jackson Park were hit by vandalism.

This included sanitiser gel dispensers being ripped from walls at both toilet blocks, and a fire was started in a hand basin at the Rossmere Park toilets.

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