New fence for Thatcham park in bid to improve safety

A fence is to be installed at a Thatcham park in a bid to improve safety.

Thatcham Town Council approved the installation of a new fence after the area was regarded as high risk in a recent inspection.

Dunstan Green has a gully running through the length of the park which has steep banks on either side.

West Berkshire Council has already installed fencing in areas where the gully had been modified under a flood alleviation works scheme.

The area now being considered is outside of the district council’s scope of work and has been passed on to Thatcham Town Council.

Town councillors, in a recreation and amenities committee meeting, approved an expenditure of £5,088 for the installation, funded from the Rolling Capital Fund.

Councillor Jeremy Cottam (Lib Dem, Thatcham North East) said: “We did go around last year and have a look and it was an area of concern. We viewed it as an improvement of safety.

“In a good way it’s come back on us, we installed a health and safety policy for the whole of the council and that of course takes it very, very seriously and once something is rated high then we have to do it almost immediately and I welcome it.”

Temporary fencing has already been installed as a short-term measure.

Councillor Simon Pike (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) said: “Once you have a health and safety assessment that says something is a high risk, regardless of your personal view, as a professional view, that is something that has to be done.”