These are the playgrounds reopening in Preston and Central Lancs this weekend

Children's playgrounds were among the many areas of our everyday lives mothballed by the coronavirus outbreak back in March.
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However, the latest stage of lockdown-lifting means that local authorities will be permitted to reopen their facilities from today (4th July).

Preston City Council has said that it will be opening its play areas in stages over the coming week in order to allow safety inspections to be carried out on play equipment and signs to be installed with guidelines on using the playgrounds during the pandemic.

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The authority is planning to open four of its facilities on Saturday - at Avenham Park, Moor Park, Ashton Park and Ribbleton Park. It may also be possible to reopen the play areas at Haslam Park and Grange Park on the same day, but that has not been confirmed.

The play area at Moor ParkThe play area at Moor Park
The play area at Moor Park

Cllr Robert Boswell, cabinet member for environment and community safety, said he expects families to be eager to start using the equipment once again - but appealed for understanding.

“While everyone is working really hard to carry out the necessary safety checks at play areas across the city, we’d ask that people continue to be patient so each site can be thoroughly checked before it’s opened for use. If you visit a site which is still taped off and closed, please respect this and return another day.

“The number one priority is the health and safely of all residents and visitors to the play areas so we’d ask people to continue to follow social distancing and hand sanitising practices to protect themselves and others,” he added.

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The Pavilion Café at Avenham Park will also reopen on Saturday, seven days a week between 11am and 4pm. Customers are asked to follow the guidance that will be displayed on signage at the venue.

Elsewhere, Wyre Council says that it will start to reopen playgrounds from Saturday - but with around 30 facilities across the borough, it will take several days to complete the process.

Visiting families are urged to use the play areas responsibly and, if a site is busy, to come back at a different time. Parents or guardians and their children should stay apart from others and hands should be washed after using any of the equipment.

South Ribble, Chorley and Ribble Valley councils were appproached for details about their plans. The Post understands that many of the facilities in South Ribble will reopen on Saturday, but some smaller venues will remain shut until Monday.