Residents of Tadpole Garden Village were dismayed when a slide tower was set ablaze and destroyed last year, but now an update on what is happening next has been provided.
The estate's management company Preim have now announced that approval is in place to replace the damaged slide at The Town Park and that it will be installed later this year.
"In November 2021 Preim were notified that there was a fire at The Town Park at Tadpole Garden Village where the Octagonal Slide Tower was set ablaze," they said in a news release on the area's website.
"The Tadpole Garden Village Community Interest Company (TGVCIC) landscapers CutNClear attended site the same day where the equipment was fenced off safely as from initial inspections the tower looked unsafe and that it would need to most likely be replaced."
"Timber Gate provided a quote for the Play Equipment to be replaced and Preim subsequently required approval from the TGVCIC Directors, Crest Nicholson SW."
"This approval was provided following a meeting in late January. Prior to the meeting this was raised and discussed with the resident steering committee so they were aware of the options that the CIC would be looking to take for the replacement of the slide."
Firecrews attended the fire at 7.50am on November 20 but were unable to save the sldie tower.
On the same day, police announced a 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of arson.
At the time Acting Sgt Keith Macdonald said: “This type of mindless behaviour is just completely unacceptable – as a result of this fire, this popular piece of equipment is completely out of action for the young children living nearby who enjoy the facilities on a regular basis."
Preim added that there were requests from members of the public to replace the slide tower with inclusive equipment or different equipment, but that the decision was made to do a like-for-like replacement to speed the process up, but inclusive equipment would be looked into.
"With regards to the inclusive play equipment requests it was agreed that this is being reviewed as a part of future play equipment on the development and formed part of a wider discussion for all of the play equipment at TGV so it was not required in replacing the damaged slide," it said.
Amendments will be made to the slide tower to address concerns raised around two children falling off, and the slide getting hot during the summer.
The slide itself will be cleaned and polished and re-used as it remains structurally fine following the fire.
Residents have been advised by Timber Gate that it will take approximately 14-15 weeks for the equipment to be built, delivered and installed.
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