Play area in Brislington damaged by ‘deliberate’ fire just weeks after opening

A fire was started ‘deliberately’ at a children’s play area in Brislington - just weeks after it was opened following a seven-year funding campaign.

Damage was caused to the rubber surface under the climbing frame at Eastwood Farm’s new play area, off Eastwood Road in Broomhill, as a result of the blaze, thought to have been started with cardboard on Tuesday night (March 28).

But despite what could be seen as minor damage, Jo Moore, chairperson of the Friends of Eastwood Farm, which led the fundraising campaign for the play area, said she was ‘very saddened’ by the fire.

Only on February 9 the play area was opened with a ceremony after a long hard-fought project to raise the cash to replace the existing, rusting playpark which was more than 25 years old.

Having inspected the damage today, Mrs Moore said: “It is so sad, it has been open just two months and looked after so well with the surfaces pristine and no scratches - and then this.

“I am just very saddened someone has taken the effort to light a fire and damage something which was built by the local community for the local community.”

She added: “The majority of children appreciate the playground for both for themselves and the younger members of the community. It just takes a few who show little regard for others.”

Mrs Moore said Bristol City Council had been notified of the damage.

Some of money for the play park came from a Community Infrastructure Levy, which gets money from housing developers, while the community also raised thousands to ensure the playpark could finally be built.

Work started on it in November last year, with the opening last month. Since then, Mrs Moore said children had come ‘from all around’ the local area to enjoy it. It features a climbing frame, swings and a slide, among other items.

The nearest playparks are at Victory Park or St Anne’s.

Among those at the opening ceremony was Brislington East Councillor Katja Hornchen. She also expressed disappointment after the damage and added: “It is really sad because so many children rely on that new play area, and it has only been open weeks.”

Councillor Hornchen added more work needed to be done to provide night-time activities for young people in the area.

On the Brislington Community Page on Facebook, several people commented on the damage, with some suggesting a CCTV camera should be installed.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that one fire crew was called to the play area at 8.59pm. Firefighters used one bucket of water to put out the ‘small fire’ under the climbing frame, a spokesperson said.

They added: “It was believed to be deliberate and police were called.”