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Safety issues delay opening of Falkirk playpark named after young police officer who diedThe new playpark was to officially open on Saturday but this has now been postponedNewsKirsty
Paterson Local Democracy Reporter11:34, 29 May 2025Updated 15:28, 29 May 2025Campbell and Lorraine Joyce (Aiden Joyce's mum and dad) with Bantaskine Residents Association's Jacqueline Hannah
and Rhona Webster, visited the park ahead of its opening The official opening of a new playpark in Falkirk - named after a young community police officer who died suddenly - has been
postponed for safety reasons.
The Aiden Joyce Community Playpark in Bantaskine, Falkirk, was due to open officially on Saturday (May 31), with a fun day planned that the whole community had been invited to attend.
However, members Bantaskine Residents Association - the driving force behind the new play area - were bitterly disappointed to hear the news that the opening was to be postponed.
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Article continues below The group's chair Jacqueline Hannah said she was also unhappy that they had not been given more warning that there were safety issues, when they had understood the
park was very close to being signed off.
The group has previously issued a plea to youngsters not to play on the equipment for safety reasons - although they had hoped these would have been resolved before the actual opening
ceremony.
Jacqueline said: "We are really disappointed at this delay, especially with such short notice.
"We will get a new date set as soon as possible - we have been assured that it's not going to be long."
Falkirk Council apologised for the delay and said a new date would be organised as quickly as possible.
A spokesperson for Falkirk Council said: "It is important before allowing any new play equipment to be used, checks are carried out by inspectors to ensure that all the equipment has been
installed safely and correctly by the contractor.
"Recent checks have shown small, minor alterations that will need to be made to some equipment, and this will regrettably delay the opening of the new play area.
"Safety must come first and we would not want to comprise this precautionary approach in any way.
"We hope the local community can understand our concerns and we look forward to seeing a rescheduled event very soon to celebrate this great new children’s play area."
The new park not only has play equipment for children - including inclusive equipment for children with disabilities - there is also gym equipment that adults can use and a seating area
for older people.
Local residents got behind the project by voting for it to get £80,000 of Community Choices funding from Falkirk Council, and another vote confirmed that they wanted it to be named in
Aiden's honour.
Aiden's untimely death, on March 7, 2023, came as a total shock to everyone who knew him.
A fit and healthy 28-year-old, his death was caused by an undiagnosed anomaly of the coronary artery and now his parents actively campaign to raise awareness and funds to get young people
tested every year, through the Aiden Joyce Memorial Fund.
Aiden - along with local councillors Lorna Binnie and Euan Stainbank, who is now an MP - was encouraging "right from the start" and even helped the residents group fill out the paperwork to
get funding.
The playpark should have been officially opened by Aiden's grandparents on Saturday, with his parents joining online as they are on holiday.
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