The top of the ship has been shut since autumn 2023.
An Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services spokesman said it was undertaking a number of improvement works and repairs in Saumarez Park playground.
Currently the quarterdeck at the back of the ship, which is home to the ship’s wheel, has been closed off. The slide is blocked off and the nets used to climb up have been removed.
‘The replacement net is on-island and ready to be installed,’ the spokesman said.
‘We started digging down before the Easter holidays to determine the anchor points for it, but put this on hold during the holidays to ensure that children could enjoy the playground. We’re continuing this work with our contractor now.’
Last month the Environment & Infrastructure Committee pledged to make playground improvements a priority after fundraisers expressed frustration at long delays in installing new equipment that they had paid for.
While some parents at the park would be glad to see the slide reopened, others have their concerns due to the height and how open the slide is at the top.
‘If you ask any mum, they will tell you every mum with a child below the age of nine has anxieties about this,’ said Tori Bourgaize, who was visiting the park with her four-year-old son James.
‘If you’ve got multiple children it’s hard because if you have one of them climbing the net you need to be watching them closely, as well as keeping an eye on the others. My concerns are the height and how open it is at the top. When you have young children they can’t read it and see that its only for older kids.’
Natalie Cutts-Watson said she would be happy to see the climbing net up to the slide re-instated.
‘Children love to climb, and as long as it’s built and used properly and safely I don’t think it’s a problem,’ she said.
Other work has also taken place at the park in recent weeks, including the installation of safety barriers on the crow’s nest of the pirate ship, and repairs to the fencing and gates around the playground. Drainage improvements have also been made.
In other parts of the park, the team have also reinstated and stabilised the paths near the rose garden, replaced the damaged access gates to the park, and continue to carry out tree maintenance works to ensure the continued health, ecological value and safety to the public of all the trees in the park.
‘There are other works planned at the park and to continue to provide a safe and enjoyable space,’ the spokesman said.
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