Parents want playground ride banned
PARENTS have called for a playground ride to be removed after two children fell off and suffered broken bones.
Four-year-old Ruby Cox, from Bishops Tawton, and eight-year-old Paige Jury, from Fremington, both fell from the RidgeRider at Fremington's new Beechfield Road play area.
Ruby has had four surgical procedures to repair her arm.
Her mother, Charlotte Homewood, said: "As she came round the corner of the ride she was tipped off the cart and landed hard on her elbow. She was in hospital for 10 days and on morphine for a whole week.
"After the first operation her fingers were black and cold. Doctors said she could have lost her whole arm. It was a nightmare."
Paige Jury was left needing surgery on a broken arm after she fell off the ride.
Paige's mum, Anne Noons, said: "She's frightened to set foot anywhere near the ride now. I know of other injuries that children have suffered from the ride — one child was hit in the face by the buggy which travels around the track at high speeds.
"This is a busy play park that is used by children of all ages and a ride like this has no place here."
The RidgeRider is made by Record RSS. When it was launched the company said of the ride: "It introduces an element of risk which has never previously been experienced in the playground."
Parents of the injured girls want it removed.
Charlotte said: "It is clearly not fit to be in a children's playground. I wouldn't want anyone to go through what we have been through — it has been horrendous."
Anne said: "Local residents raised a lot of money to install this park and I think it should have been spent a bit more wisely."
Frank Biederman, chairman of the Fremington and district community group, said: "I am disappointed that people want this ride removed. We worked hard to get this playground installed and wanted it to appeal to all ages.
"The RidgeRider is admittedly one of the more challenging rides. It upsets me to see children get hurt.
"Parents must take responsibility to make sure their children are playing within their own capabilities."
Fremington district and county cllr Rodney Cann added: "This ride is not suitable for young children.
"I had a go myself when the park opened and it is very fast and needs to be treated with caution.
"The current signing is not clear enough — there needs to be at least two signs clearly stating that it is not for use by children under seven."
Jane Mills, Fremington parish council clerk, said: "We cannot comment at the moment as the ride is currently the subject of legal proceedings."
Chris Lodge, managing director of Record RSS who make the ride, said: "Safety is always our overriding priority and while any accident to a young child is regrettable it is not possible to entirely eliminate risk.
"The signage on the side panels in two places clearly shows that the ride is not to be used by children under seven years old.
"Younger children cannot always make the correct assessment of the risk involved and the Ridge Rider has been designed to preclude them unless supervised by a responsible adult."
39 Comments
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by richard, Barnstaple
Thursday, August 06 2009, 8:17AM
“Accidents happen, had correct supervision been provided it may not have happened, the girl may also have got knocked over by a car heading to the park, stop wrapping kids up in cotton wool. I praise fremington parish for actually putting a new park in when a lot of areas are not removing parks from the fear of parents suing them when accidents happen”
by lynn, fremington
Sunday, August 02 2009, 12:35AM
“from what i can gather these accidents happened ot unsupervised children, surely that tells you something. personally i would not let my daughter on there, i ahve seen the ride, yes its fast, but kids have just as many accidents by the swings, by being knocked over when they run in front of them. if children are not supervised correctly, more accidents are likely to happen. paige was not supervised, nor is she on frequent occasions, neither is her younger sister. i would suggest that people stop trying to prevent youngsters having fun, after all there are hundreds of chidren that go in into the park daily, why not report on the fun they have, it seems to me there are a few scaremongers out there. accidents happen, but my advice os for parents to be responsible, to minimise risk, as for needing a bigger sign, you've only got to stand near the ride to see its fast, you dont need a sign to see its not suitable for youngers children, so for those parents who dont supervise their kids, wake up, accidents happen and are more likely to when your not their to keep an eye on your kids.. let those who are having fun continue to do so.”
by dominique, fremington
Friday, July 31 2009, 7:01PM
“i also dont agree that paige is scared to go on it because even she still had her arm plasterd up she was on it and normail doing 1 handed...”
by Dominiquee, Fremington
Friday, July 31 2009, 6:58PM
“RIGHT the people who are saying get rid of the ridge rider are just stupid Because alow im only 12 im part of the younger age comemittey and i was actually there when 7 year old paige fell off of the ridge rider and number 1. she was not holding on and 2.her mum was to busy in the house not even cheaking up on her own 2 daughters and to be honest i dont think ive seen her in the park once cheaking up on them.....Also Me and my 2 friends walked paige home when she fell off...So i think think its aload of rubbish to be honest and they shouldnt get rid of it.....”
by nadeanne, barnstaploe
Thursday, July 30 2009, 9:52AM
“if children were superviced at all times by parnts this would not of happened childen aged 4 should not e in parks on there own the parents are to blame never take you eyes off children and this ould not happen.”
by Proper parent, barnstaple
Wednesday, July 29 2009, 11:23AM
“Never mind a slightly risky ride -
young children in a park unsupervised that is the real sad part of this story. The parent(s) should be ashamed for leaving their little ones where they could easily run into the road or come to harm at the hands of others - Well done to Frank and all those responsible parents who give ththeir time and energy to improving their community - Sorry for anyone hurt but with proper supervision from parents (surely a parent's duty) the ride does not present a risk ouside of what someone could reasonably expect in a playground. A child is probably more at risk of injury crossing a road than actually in a playground.”
by Rachel, N Devon
Thursday, July 16 2009, 3:11PM
“All you need is a better handle bar and and the ride would be a lot safer to use, as a child would be able to prevent themselves fallen off if needs be. Taking the ride away or leaving it as it is are not the only two options available.”
by PJK, Ilfracombe
Thursday, July 16 2009, 9:16AM
“This ride should be banned. The signs aren't adequate and if a little girl nearly lost her arm then hello??”
by Bishops Tawton resident, Bishops tawton
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 12:23PM
“People really want to make sure they have got their facts correct before leaving unjustified comments like these not knowing the circumstances behind these accidents!”
by michael, bideford
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 3:22PM
“TThis child was outside of the home, on her own with no parental guidance or supervision, with no person to look out for her welfare or safety
then who is to blame for that?
The fact that the child went on the ride and hurt herself is sad, but, if her parents did not want her to go on this ride, they should have been there to say NO. If you cut yourself shaving, its your fault, or do you go and blame the manufacturer for allowing you to be in possession of a dangerous blade? THE RIDE SHOULD STAY”