Pupils agree play train ban is rotten

Published on Tuesday 10 May 2011 14:47

A LARGE wooden train which has been the only piece of play equipment in a "dull" school playground for the past decade has come to the end of the line after being condemned by school bosses.

The train at the front of Murrayburn Primary in Sighthill has been deemed unsafe for children to play on after it was found to be rotten throughout.

A cordon has been put around the equipment until it is removed as it is feared children could injure themselves if they fell through the rotten wood.

The school's parent council is now making an urgent appeal for help to buy new play equipment for the playground - which does not even have any grass for children to play on - as it has already committed its funds to learning materials for the school.

Murrayburn Primary has been the victim of sustained vandal attacks, with the school having to pay for replacement windows.

Over the past few years, vandals caused more than 8500 worth of damage to the school .

Carol Swan, chair of the parent council, said: "The children are lucky in as much as they have a large playground but it's quite dull and there's no grass and no safe place for sports.

"We must be one of the few schools that don't have anything, which is why our sports day has to be inside.

"The wooden train in the front of the school has been the only piece of play equipment we've had at the school.

"It looked great and kids loved to play on it, especially the wee ones.

"The headteacher had no choice but to stop them playing on it because it wasn't safe.

"It's rotten right through. The children are very disappointed, especially the little kids. "It's usually covered in children and we've had a few stern faces since they've been told they can't play on it any more."

Ms Swan said the parent council will now have to rely on generous benefactors as it does not have the funds to buy any new equipment for the children.

She said: "Unless someone can help us, we don't have any money to repair or replace it.

"We do very well with our fundraising but for this school year we have already committed the money we have raised to buying extra numeracy things for the school."

A city council spokesman said: "Unfortunately, after years of repairs and re- paintings, the train has come to the end of its useful life.

"The school will work with the parent council and look at ways of getting something new for the playground somewhere down the line."