"High Risk" Skate Park and Multiple Safety Failures Exposed in Damning Town Council Cutts Close Play Area Report

"High Risk" Skate Park and Multiple Safety Failures Exposed in Damning Town Council Play Area Report

An annual inspection report for Cutts Close Play Area and Skate Park has delivered a stark warning to Oakham Town Council, classifying the Wheeled Sports Area (Skate Park) as "High Risk" and the main play area as "Medium Risk". The findings include several critical safety defects that inspectors have recommended be repaired as soon as possible.

The report, dated November 27, 2025, carried out by Seagrave Inspection Services Ltd, uses a risk rating where a score of 13-20 is considered "High Risk," requiring action "ASAP to implement control measures".

Most Serious Safety Concerns

The most severe finding was in the Skate Park, which received the overall High Risk (15) rating.

The specific, most serious safety concern identified was a Transition issue where a gap between the rolling surface and a footplate was in excess of 5mm. The inspector's recommendation was to "Repair this condition asap".

The main Play Area received a Medium Risk (10) rating, which dictates that action should be taken to reduce the risk if possible. Issues contributing to this rating included:

Swings: Multiple cradle and flat swings were flagged with a Medium Risk (8) due to wear evident on the chain and connecting links.

Safety Surfacing: Significant defects were noted in the safety surfacing beneath the swings, including wet pour shrinkage and gaps evident in rubber tiles.

Editors Note: It is important to note Oakham Town Council spent thousands of pounds on this wet pour last year. 

Finger Traps: The Inclusive Roundabout was noted as having a risk (8) because the unit is "known to move slightly over time causing possible finger traps".

Editors Note: The Inclusive Roundabout was newly installed last year, one town councillor at the time said it looked like it was a bodge job as new wet pour was damaged to fit it. The new roundabout after many years of the old one being flagged as a high risk.

General Maintenance: Loose fixings were found on the Junior Multiplay Unit (Risk 8), and the inspection found the fencing around the area to be in "Poor" condition with loose fixings and a damaged brick wall near the gate.

The report's general comments also urged the council to "Consider a robust maintenance and inspection schedule".

Councillor Blasts Council's "Reactive" Approach

In response to the report's findings, a local Town Councillor issued a scathing statement, criticising the Council's management of the town's facilities:

"The report does not surprise me, for far too long Oakham Town Council has neglected its responsibilities, it has failed to ensure a basic maintenance program is put in place, it a reactive council rather than a proactive council, one example is it only cleans equipment when residents complain, when a councillor joined over year ago he highlighted a article published by a major insurance company, the article highlighted the risk to Parish Councils insurance cover if play areas and equipment looked uncleaned and if the councils could not prove they had carried out regular maintenance." A town councillor added I dread to know what our insurance company would say if it requested copies of our inspection reports if there was an unfortune claim against the council.