Councillor cuts locks on playground

Rhys James - News sub-editor

The councillor representing Ouseburn took matters into his own hands and removed padlock from children's playground

Gareth Kane, a councillor who represents Ouseburn, used a hacksaw and pliers to remove a padlock and chain from a children’s playground following a call from a resident.

Mr Kane, who has represented the Ouseburn Ward since 2004, was called on 6 February by a resident who complained about the playground having been padlocked.

Initially, Mr Kane believed that this could have been done for safety reasons, but became suspicious when he noticed it was a “cheap chain and a padlock” that had been “glued and held together with gaffer tape”.

He asked the Council to reopen the playground but noticed they still hadn't done it

The Liberal Democrat Councillor asked Newcastle City Council to