Essential Safety Improvements – Works Commence Monday 2nd November 2026
Bentham Town Council would like to inform residents and visitors that Goodenber Road Play Area will be temporarily closed from 8:00am on Monday 2nd November 2026. The works are expected to take approximately three weeks, subject to progress and any unforeseen circumstances.
We apologise for the inconvenience this temporary closure will cause, particularly to families and residents who regularly use the play area and those who use it as a cut-through to access neighbouring streets. We appreciate your patience and understanding while these important improvements are undertaken.
What work is being carried out?
Following professional inspections, several items of play equipment and associated surfaces were deemed unsafe for continued use without remedial action. The Council is therefore arranging the necessary works to ensure the play area can be enjoyed safely by the public.
The planned improvements include:
- A new swing set to replace the existing equipment.
- A new zip wire flooring surface to improve safety around the zip wire.
- A new seesaw for children to enjoy.
- Remedial works to play area surfaces to address identified safety concerns.
- Refitting of the roundabout to ensure it meets the required safety standards.
These improvements are an important investment in the safety and future enjoyment of the play area. The Council is committed to ensuring that the equipment is safe for children and families to use.
Temporary closure and alternative routes
For the duration of the works, the play area will be securely fenced off and access will not be permitted.
As the play area is frequently used as a cut-through, we kindly ask pedestrians to plan an alternative route while the works are underway.
For everyone’s safety, please respect all fencing, barriers and signage. Do not enter the enclosed area, move or remove barriers, or attempt to access the play equipment during the closure. The restrictions are in place to protect the public from construction activities, machinery and equipment that has been identified as requiring safety improvements.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe working environment for everyone.
Important parking and access request – Wesley Close
To allow the contractors to carry out the work safely and efficiently, access will be required for machinery, deliveries and the placement of a skip within the play area.
We therefore ask residents and visitors to keep the area opposite the large gate serving the play area on Wesley Close clear of parked vehicles (in the photograph below) throughout the works, wherever possible.
Keeping this access area free from vehicles is essential to enable deliveries and machinery to enter and leave the site safely and to prevent unnecessary delays to the project.
Thank you for your consideration and cooperation.
Thank you for your understanding
Bentham Town Council understands that the temporary closure may be inconvenient, especially for local families and those who regularly pass through the area. However, these works are necessary following professional safety inspections and will help ensure that the play area can be enjoyed safely in the future.
We sincerely apologise for any disruption caused and thank residents, visitors and families for their patience and support while these improvements are completed.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back to an improved Goodenber Road Play Area once the works have been completed and the site has been confirmed safe to reopen.
Bentham Town Council