Childs Play Could Have Turned Into a Horror Story

Routine inspections of play equipment at a local holiday park lead to the owner being fined £6,000.

On the 28^th August 2008, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Environmental Health Officers, checked the condition of playground equipment at Burgh Hall Holiday Park Lords Lane Burgh Castle.

Officers found the play equipment to be in a state of disrepair, damaged, holed and rusting.   Some of the equipment in the playground was unsafe and created a risk of injury to children using it.

In line with the councils enforcement policy a health and safety improvement notice was served on the owner Mr Hole, requiring the playground equipment to be maintained in a safe condition and in good working order.  However, subsequent visits made to check compliance with this notice found that the notice had not been complied with.

On Friday 5 November 2009, Mr Mark Hole of Burgh Hall Holiday Park Lords Lane Burgh Castle was found guilty by Great Yarmouth magistrates Court for this non compliance of a Health & Safety Improvement Notice and fined £6,000 for this breach.

In addition to this full const of £1,436.80 were also awarded to the council.

Sarah Flatman Environmental Health Officer said ‘Mr Hole allowed the playground on his site to fall into disrepair and to create a risk of injury especially to children who were likely to use this equipment. Despite repeated requests and the service of a formal notice, works to improve this area had not been undertaken until recently”  

Kate Watts Commercial Team Manger summarised “Each year thousands of members of the public suffer serious injuries; in 2008/2009 94 members of the public were killed due to poor health and safety practices.

This case is  an important reminder to employers and owners of businesses that under Health and Safety Legislation they must ensure their premises are safe not only for their employees but for all visitors including the general public.  They should also be aware that when formal notices are ignored such matters will be brought before a court”