Skip to content

Boys collect 600 signatures to improve playground

Jonny Manning & Ollie Rawlinson
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
BBC Ethan and Kaelan standing on a piece of play equipment. They are leaning on the yellow railing and looking down at the camera. They look unhappy. Red and brown rust can be seen in many places on the equipment.BBC
Friends Ethan, 12, and Kaelan, 13, want new equipment installed at their local playground

Two boys who describe their local playground as "broken, boring and full of graffiti" are campaigning to have it improved.

Twelve-year-old Ethan, and Kaelan, 13, have been knocking on doors and asking people to sign a petition calling for Flimby Playground in Cumbria to be upgraded.

They have collected almost 600 signatures and plan to take their petition to Cumberland Council.

The council said it welcomes suggestions on how to improve its play areas and will meet with the boys to discuss how it can help put their plans into action.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, Ethan said: "We want some better stuff that's not rusty, and some more stuff for the older [ones] and little ones.

"If we put an AstroTurf football pitch [in the park] then the children of Flimby could use it to play football on.

"Then, if it is winter and raining, Flimby rugby team can use it too."

A sign, standing on the grass, at the entrance of Flimby Playground. The battered sign is covered in yellow graffiti. Behind the sign, a play area and houses can be seen.
The boys say Flimby Playground is rundown and covered in graffiti

Kaelan's mother, Nicola, said news of the boys' campaign work had "spread through the village".

"Flimby is a very, very tight community. We all know each other and we all speak about each other's children," she said.

"I work at the local school, and I have had people come up to me and tell me how proud they are of the boys."

Ethan and Kaelan pictured in the park. One of the boys is standing on a large circular 'bird's nest' swing made from ropes. He is holding onto the swing's chains for balance.
The boys would like to see new equipment installed, with something for all ages

The campaign has won the support of Labour's Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, who said he had written to Cumberland Council asking for "funding to be allocated for investment in the park".

"I'm hopeful of a positive response from the council, and to make it a fantastic playground for local children and young people of all ages once again," he said.

Cumberland Council said it maintains dozens of play facilities and does all it can to make them "welcoming and safe sites to visit".

"We will soon be meeting up with the youngsters from Flimby to see how we can support putting their plans into action," a council spokesperson said.

Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.

More stories
Related internet links