Our youngsters injured in the play areas and parks where they are supposed to be safe

May 8 2008 Glamorgan Gazette

‘There was glass all over the park, I could hear him screaming, there was blood everywhere’

by Gareth Evans

A MOTHER was horrified when her five-year-old son came back from the park with glass in his hand.

Sarah Curnock, of Hermon Road, Caerau, was at home when her brother, Geraint Goodridge, took her three children out to play. But no sooner had they left, young Rhys was running home screaming.

“He wasn’t over there 10 minutes,” said Mrs Curnock, aged 28.

“I could hear him screaming from my house. He got in and there was blood everywhere.”

Surgery Park, minutes away from the family home on Hermon Road, is popular with children.

But its swings, slides and climbing frames are littered with shards of glass.

Mrs Curnock said her son had been “traumatised” by the incident, which took place when the park was at its busiest last Saturday evening.

“There was glass all over the floor and he fell over and got a big piece stuck in his hand,” she said.

“He put his hands out to stop himself falling. Someone had smashed bottles over there. I rushed him to hospital and they gave him four stitches. He’s only five and he was traumatised. It could have been his eye or anything. It’s an accident waiting to happen. There’s always glass over there and the council are supposed to clean it up.”

Mrs Curnock has become accustomed to older children drinking alcohol and lighting fires in the park. And now, following her son’s injury she says enough is enough.

“There were children playing football in there the other day - and there is a field next door. It’s pathetic. I have been to the council but they have done nothing.”

A spokesman for Bridgend County Borough Council said littering in the park is a recurring problem.

“The area was recently cleared of broken glass after the local councillor raised concerns, but it appears the problem has reoccurred,” he said. “We normally visit such sites up to three times a week to clear litter. The situation at this particular area will be monitored and if necessary, will be visited more frequently.”

Six-year-old stabbed by needle discarded in children’s play ‘den’ - page 2