Quadron Services

GREEN LANE RECREATION GROUND, NEW MALDEN

The children's playground in Green Lane Recreation Ground in New Malden had suffered from flooding and sewage contamination after periods of heavy rainfall for many years. RBK and Quadron took the decision to permanently close the playground in the summer of 2008 due to Health and Safety reasons, and since then have been in discussions with Thames Water.

These discussions have led the playground to be relocated and substantially upgraded in a £200,000 project with all costs being met by Thames Water.

Artist's impression of the new playground, designed by Ash Reid Design, Quadron's specialist playground maintenance partner.

The design and planning stage has been a lengthy process since the closure but the good news was that planning permission was finally granted early in 2009. Quadron has project managed both the design and build phases with the new site recently opened to the public.

The site has new play equipment, better fencing and improved paths and very importantly is compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) - meaning it has play equipment specifically designed for those with a disability

The new facilities

The Council's Neighbourhood Management and Environmental Health teams will continue working with Thames Water to find a long term solution to the problem of flooding and sewage discharge at the site and review improvements to the treatment works at Lower Marsh Lane. However the re-location of the site will mean that future floods will not impact on the playground and the local community as it has in the past.