Parks to re-open with safety measures in place
All Neath Port Talbot Council parks are to re-open to the public on Thursday, June 4th 2020 with safety measures in place.
All council parks were closed on March 22nd, 2020, following Welsh Government advice to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The Council is responding to the wishes of residents in re-opening all parks, and a change in the Welsh Government’s lockdown rules, however, it will not be “business as usual” as a series of measures will be in place to help maintain the safety and welfare of both staff and park visitors.
There are 18 council owned parks in Neath Port Talbot. All have varying facilities including children’s play areas.
Based on current Welsh Government guidance, the children’s play areas within the 18 council-owned parks will have to remain closed.
Also, any facilities such as toilets and cafes within the parks will not be re-opened.
Visitors to the re-opened parks will be requested to stick closely to social distancing measures. Signs reminding park users of safety precautions will be placed on all access gates and visitors will be reminded of the need for hand washing/sanitising before and after visiting and to refrain from touching surfaces likely to have been touched by others.
Current guidance for parks is that benches should be removed but this would be impractical as benches are bedded in concrete so users will be asked not to use benches.
Residents are asked to follow Welsh Government guidance which emphasises the importance of exercising locally to where people live, generally within a five mile radius and not to travel to parks outside of the five mile guidance at this time.
The Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Rob Jones, said: “We know lockdown has been much harder for those who don’t have a lot of living space, a garden, or a place for their children to run around.
“We’re pleased therefore to be able to re-open all of our parks but I would ask that we all continue to play our part in the national fight against coronavirus by continuing to observe social distancing when exercising in parks so that visiting them is a good experience for everyone.”
The 18 parks re-opening are Craig Gwladys Country Park, Cilfrew, Victoria Gardens, Neath (bandstand will be cordoned off), Jersey Park, Briton Ferry, Vivian Park, Sandfields, Talbot Park, Port Talbot (bandstand cordoned off), Baglan Park, Baglan, Tollgate Park, Margam, Parc Siencyn Powell, Cwmavon, King George V Park, Pontardawe, Parc Y Werin, Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Parc Y Darren, Ystalyfera, Mount Pleasant, Neath, Dyfed Road, Neath, Bryn Park, Bryn, Melyn Park, Melyn, Twll yn y Wal, Taibach, Margam Country Park, Gnoll Country Park.
News taken from NPT website 01/06/2020