Play It Safe to Reduce The Spread of COVID-19

Play it safe to reduce the spread of COVID-19

Play areas and outdoor gyms are set to reopen in the borough from Saturday 4 July.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will start reopening its 150 play areas and 50 play areas belonging to parish and town councils from this Saturday and is encouraging people to follow government guidance to reduce the risk of spreading the virus when using the equipment.
Before each play area and outdoor gym can be safely reopened it must be inspected and residents are asked not to use the equipment until the council’s team has carried out this work and declared it fit for use.

Signage will be placed at each location asking people to follow government guidance including:
• giving other people space in line with the current social distancing guidance
• washing hands before and after visiting
• using hand sanitiser gel or wipes to clean hands
• putting tissues or rubbish in the bins provided.

No food or drink should be consumed in the play areas and people are asked not to use busy facilities to help keep themselves and others safe.
Play areas and outdoor gyms in the borough were closed in March due to the pandemic. Their reopening has been announced as part of the latest set of COVID-19 recovery guidance issued by the Government.

Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and the Natural Environment Cllr Mark Ruffell said: “It is great news that at long last play areas and outdoor gyms are going to reopen and I know this will please a large number of families and exercise enthusiasts in the borough. We urge people to follow the guidance from the Government when using these facilities to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Please wash your hands or use sanitiser gel to clean them before and after visiting, give people space while in the play area and do not use the areas if you have coronavirus symptoms. If the play area is busy and you cannot keep to social distancing guidelines please leave and return later.
“It will take some time to re-open over 200 play areas and outdoor gyms from Saturday so we ask people to be patient. Our team has to inspect each space before it be reopened and we will complete this work as quickly as we can.”

For more information and to find your nearest play area visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/playareas