A CLIMBING frame sited within the grounds of Usk

Church in Wales Primary School is to be moved

following complaints from concerned residents and

councillors reports GEMMA BALL.

Several residents of Black Barn Close attended a

recent meeting of Usk Town Council to voice their

concerns to councillors about the position of the

structure which is just a few metres from their

gardens.

They told councillors that the climbing frame

infringed their privacy, that teenagers gather at the

site when the school is closed and that they were not

consulted at any stage only receiving a letter from the

head teacher, Claire Gething, two days after it was

constructed.

The letter asked residents to "act as good

neighbours and contact the local police" should they

see the equipment being used or misused out of

school hours.

One resident told the council, "I have lived there

since 1976, this has been horrendous, it is just two

metres from my front garden, the children can look

straight through into my house. I can't believe

permission was granted in the first place, it is making

my life a misery.

"I can't understand why it has been put at the

narrowest part of the school, it must be a health a

safety issue."

Another commented, "If they didn't have the

ground then fair enough but they have plenty of park

there,"

Black Barn Close has just eight houses with five

of the houses belonging to elderly residents.

"Funds have obviously been raised for this by the

PTA so to take it out and put it somewhere else will be

quite expensive, but there has been an increase in

noise, there is lack of privacy could reduce the value

of our property," added another.

The residents had tried to contact Ms Gething

but they say their calls were never returned.

Councillors agreed it is in an inappropriate place

and disapproved of the manner in which it the

situation has been dealt, they agreed to support the

residents.

Fully supporting the residents, a meeting was

held on Friday, July 18 between Usk county councillor

Brian Strong, head teacher Claire Gething and chair of

the governors, Peter Clarke to discuss the concerns

raised over the climbing frame.

As a result, Ms Gething has agreed to get a

quotation with regards to cost to moving the climbing

frame from the view of the residents' gardens.

Usk mayor, councillor Tony Kear said, "We are

please to hear a positive meeting took place with the

head teacher and that the views of the concerned

residents and councillors have been taken on board

and as a result an alternative site it to been found."

He added, "The council is committed to listening

to the concerns of the public and are delighted we

have demonstrated that we will act where

appropriate."