Inverness park fully reopens as safety inspection completed after child almost hit by falling equipment
Whin Park has been fully reopened for public use after a climbing frame was temporarily closed
Over the weekend, a parent reported that a rope with a metal bolt on a new climbing frame came away and hit him on the arm and narrowly missed his six-year-old child.
The incident happened just a week after the children’s play area reopened following a £500,000 revamp.
The recently upgraded park has now had a full safety inspection by the equipment suppliers, Jupiter, and its installers after the issue was reported over the weekend.
The Highland Council's Play Inspection Team attended the site on Saturday morning and took the unit out of use until such time as Jupiter could attend.
Jupiter advised: “We take all safety matters extremely seriously and responded with urgency — dispatching a team to the site at 9.30am today to resolve the issue swiftly and professionally."
Highland Council has said that some of the play equipment is ‘for under 18s use only’.
The local authority is set to increase its inspections for the foreseeable future.
Jupiter added: “Whin Park has enjoyed a busy first 10 days since reopening. As a destination park, it has experienced significantly higher footfall than a typical local playground, and we are thrilled to see the community embracing it so enthusiastically.
"Over the weekend, a maintenance issue was reported involving a loose bolt on the climbing net, which led to a rope becoming detached.
“As part of our response, a comprehensive inspection of all play equipment and fixings has been carried out to ensure everything remains secure and in top condition.
"We would like to take this opportunity to reassure the public that the new playground has been installed and inspected in accordance with BS EN 1176 standards. It is fully compliant and safe for continued use. Regular maintenance and inspection are essential parts of ensuring long-term safety and performance.
"We are committed to maintaining the highest safety standards and ensuring that Whin Park continues to be a welcoming and secure space for families to enjoy."
Highland Council has extended the opening hours of the public toilets during the current school holidays and more benches and picnic tables are due to be installed at the park soon.
