'Dangerous' pottery artwork removed from park

Pottery made by children to brighten up a community park has been removed by council officers for health and safety reasons. The decorative trinkets were taken down from fencing surrounding the Mill Dam Play Area in Ulverston, Cumbria, amid claims they posed a danger to youngsters and passers-by. The move followed a complaint made to South Lakeland District Council. The group responsible for the creation and display of the works, The BUGs of Ulverston, has been left stunned by the decision.



Member and local resident, Geoff Dellow, said: “We are sad that whoever made the complaint didn’t directly discuss it with us: we are always ready to compromise. And what did the council management find that was so dangerous? The pottery was up for a full year last year – what has changed? I just don’t understand. People find it ridiculous, we’re astonished by the decision.” Mr Dellow, received a letter from South Lakeland District Council saying the pottery was being removed due to “safety concerns”.

Mr Dellow has swapped emails with council officers about the Mill Dam project and similar schemes in neighbouring parks since 2009, and says he felt the group had developed a good working relationship with them. The complaint that prompted the council’s decision came from SLDC councillor for Ulverston North, Helen Irving. Herself a grandmother of three, she said: “Somebody had gone past and she’d actually caught her arm. She didn’t want to make an official complaint herself, but she said she found it really dangerous, and some of it is dangerous. It was quite sharp. There were concerns that, if the children cut themselves, what would happen?


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“And I was asked to do something about it. No-one wants to cause any trouble, nobody wants to cause problems, people do see the group are trying to make the park look nice. But as a councillor I have to be seen to be working for the people who elected me.” Simon Rowley, SLDC assistant director of neighbourhood services said: “The articles have been carefully removed and will be safely stored so they can be re-claimed by the owners. We are currently reviewing facilities at Mill Dam with a view to making improvements to the play equipment and are keen to work in partnership with local residents and community groups to enhance and improve this and other play areas.”