Parks’ ‘wasteful’ water pump draws criticism
Reporter: BEATRIZ AYALA
Date published: 12 September 2011
THE water pump at Tandle Hill Park has attracted criticism for teaching children to waste water
OLDHAM Council has defended the use of “wasteful” water pumps as an educational toy.
The hand pumps, situated in Tandle Hill Country Park and Alexandra Park as part of a children’s outdoor play area, have angered one Royton resident.
The devices let children bring water up from the ground by pumping a handle.
The resident, who does not want to be identified, said she was stunned to find out from a council officer that the pump in Tandle Hill wastes 200 litres of water a day.
She said she was angry that children were being taught to waste water that is not recycled.
She said: “The pump at Tandle Hill Country Park brings up water from the ground which then spills away into sand.
“I wouldn’t have a problem with it if the water was recycled and children could see how the pump works.
“But the water is just draining away, there is no recycling element to it or tank that the water comes from and goes back into.
“I can’t see what the children get out of it apart from the fact it’s just good fun.
“It’s just teaching children to waste a viable resource at a time when some children in the world are dying for a drink of water.”
Councillor Jean Stretton, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said the two water features were installed as part of the Government Playbuilder and Big Lottery investment in new and improved play equipment across the borough.
She said the water they used was a small fraction of the requirements in parks and open spaces across Oldham.
She said: “In order to make play facilities as challenging and exciting as possible it is necessary to invest in good design, materials and resources — in this case water.
“Feedback on these facilities has been positive and they have already become a popular part of the play areas with local families.
“Giving children access to a range of varied play activities is key to their development and these water play areas are an excellent example of this.”
