Nanny State outlaws children’s trampoline
HOUSING bosses have ordered a childminder to take down a trampoline – because children could “injure themselves” if they bounce off and land on the grass.
Sharon Farmer has put up the 14ft trampoline in communal gardens for 10 years but has been told to remove it for health and safety reasons.
Mother-of-one Mrs Farmer, 44, said she was devastated after being ordered by the housing association to take down the trampoline, which has a safety net around the sides.
She said she put it up every summer to give children in the area something to do. She said play is supervised at all times at the gardens in Lewisham, south London.
More than 40 youngsters, including those she looks after, love bouncing on the trampoline. She said: “I have written permission from parents for their children to go on it and I am insured for the children I look after.
“There have never been any accidents because mine has a net. It’s never been a problem until London and Quadrant Housing Association took over, but now they say children could hurt themselves if they bounce off on to the grass. What else are you meant to do on a trampoline?”
Calling L & Q “killjoys”, Julie Spence, 25, said: “There’s a safety net, so a kid would really have to bounce pretty high to end up on the ground.”
L & Q said it would check the trampoline was down by the time children went back to school next week but had agreed it could stay until then.
“The trampoline will be reassessed next spring in conjunction with health and safety representatives,” it said.
