COUNCILLORS have said that new fencing needs to be installed around a play area in Wellington as quickly as possible.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s environment committee heard on November 20 that a section of fencing around the play area at Weavers Reach had broken and needed to be replaced.

Open spaces manager, Darren Hill, told councillors that it was a problem and had seen at first-hand how there could be a danger with dogs being able to freely run in and out of the play area.

But he told councillors that he had so far only received one quotation for the work to replace the broken fencing – amounting to £2,382 – while two other requests had yet to be obtained.

Cllr Keith Wheatley said: “This is a priority issue as we’re talking about the children’s play area. Not only have we got the safety aspect because of dogs being able to get in, there’s also the issue of dog poo. I would be happy we go-ahead with this on the health and safety grounds.”

Committee chairman, Cllr Mike McGuffie, said: “We have to keep the dogs out.”

Mr Hill said: “We try to prop the broken fence up, but every time we do that it’s not long before somebody has come along and taken it down deliberately.”

He added that the broken fence railings and posts had also become a trip hazard for people.

It was agreed that some temporary fencing should be installed as a matter of urgency before the fencing was properly replaced.