A rise in the number of playground injury claims could force the closure of Britain’s adventure playgrounds.
Up to 70 voluntary-run playgrounds could be under threat after a leading insurer decided to stop insuring some parks it deemed too “high-risk”.
Leading insurer Zurich have withdrawn cover from three voluntary-run playgrounds they deem too risky citing a rise in the number and cost of claims arising from play-related accidents.
Other charity-run playgrounds insured by the company could have their policies assessed in the near future leading to fears more parks could have their insurance stripped or the premiums upped.
A years cover is currently around £1,600 to £2,000.
Nicola Butler, chairwoman of Play England, said the move set a “worrying” precedent that could lead to “mass closures”.
She said: “If parks don’t have this type of insurance they can’t open to children.
“That’s the bottom line.
“It raises serious questions. Voluntary parks already pay a lot of money for insurance.
“If that increases it puts a high strain on small charities.
The three adventure parks to have their cover withdrawn were near the end of their policies.
Zurich said the decision was the result of “recent assessments”.
Glamis playground in Shadwell, east London is one of the parks to receive this notice.
Letters from the company are said the company’s “appetite” towards adventure playgrounds had changed.
Zurich have 17 similar parks on their books.
A spokesperson from the company said they would assess parks: “individually before making a decision about whether we feel confident to provide cover.”
These three are a part of 70 supervised adventure parks run by the voluntary sector, many of whom have taken on the day-to-day running from cash-strapped councils.
A high proportion of these are found in deprived areas.
Council run playgrounds are usually covered under the council’s indemnity insurance.
Ms Butler said parks already found it hard to find insurers who would cover them and faced high prices for premiums.
Nicole, who also works with the charity Hackney Play Association to run two parks in the London borough.
She fears what the group will do when their policy with Zurich runs out in October, despite both parks not making a single claim in the last five years.
“It’s not fair, especially when you compare contact sports like football and rugby who have a much higher rate of ending up in A&E but you don’t see insurance companies saying they won’t insure football and rugby clubs” she said.
“Comparatively, play has one of the lowest risk factors.”
She said it could put other groups off taking over parks and saving them from closure altogether.
She added: “These parks are a lifeline for lots of people.
“They provide a place for many kids who have nowhere else to go.”
Zurich said: “It’s important that we work with the operating organisations to understand why this is happening and help them put in place reasonable steps to limit accidents and injuries happening.”
Read More
Top news stories from Mirror Online
-
5 teens arrested after man ‘fled gang’
-
Up-to-date snow warnings
-
Passengers ‘fat pigs’ meltdown
-
Brit says wife was real killer
Source: Read Full Article