Keeping South Perthshire play spaces safe after flooding

Playgrounds are essential community infrastructure, providing children with space to run, explore and socialise. Floodwater can damage play equipment, wash away safety surfacing and force families to travel elsewhere. Protecting these spaces is therefore essential for families, local organisations and the wider health of South Perthshire’s communities.

SNP candidate Annabelle Ewing has made flood-resilient play spaces a practical campaign priority. Drawing on her legal career and previous parliamentary service, she combines careful scrutiny of public duties with strong advocacy for economic recovery, Scottish independence and effective representation at Westminster.

For Australian readers, the issue has familiar parallels. Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney have all faced storms that overwhelmed drainage systems or damaged public parks. Scotland, unlike Australia, does not have compulsory voting, making clear information and active community participation especially important during elections.

Why flood-damaged play spaces matter

Heavy rainfall can overwhelm drainage around parks and housing developments, leaving play areas waterlogged for days. Equipment bases may shift, safety mats can become contaminated, and electrical systems may require inspection. A visible closure is often the final step in a longer process of damage, repair and lost public use.

This matters most in places such as Crieff, Dunblane, Pitlochry, Auchterarder and Dunning, where communities depend on accessible outdoor spaces. Parents need reliable places for children to play, while older residents value well-maintained parks for exercise and social contact.

Flood prevention also supports economic recovery. Faster repairs mean fewer wasted journeys and fewer families paying for alternative activities. Durable drainage and sensible maintenance reduce repeated costs, while safer public facilities make South Perthshire more attractive to families, visitors and local businesses.

Ewing’s practical record of action

Ewing’s background in law has shaped her approach to public safety. She understands how government agencies must identify responsibilities, follow legal duties and provide accountable answers. Her previous service in the Scottish Parliament also gives her experience of turning local concerns into questions for ministers, councils and public bodies.

Her campaigning has focused on rapid safety assessments after flooding, clear repair timetables and durable replacements rather than temporary fixes. She has supported improved drainage, permeable surfaces, raised electrical components and materials designed to withstand repeated wet conditions. This approach recognises that communities should not repeatedly face the same disruption without a funded response.

The work depends on residents supplying photographs, flood records and firsthand accounts. Her message also fits the value of community organising resources: clear evidence, local knowledge and persistent follow-up are more likely to produce lasting change than a brief complaint after the water has gone.

A resilient plan for local families

A coordinated plan should begin with mapping playground drainage and identifying facilities near watercourses such as the River Earn and within the wider Tay catchment. South Perthshire Council should work with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Scottish Government to assess risks before the next period of intense rain.

Every affected site needs a clear inspection process covering surfacing, foundations, fencing, lighting and electrical equipment. Temporary closures should be communicated promptly, while repair priorities should be published. Residents and community councils should be told what is closed, why it is closed and when it will reopen.

Local action can complement professional investment. Parent groups, schools, scout organisations and nearby businesses could help report blocked drains, organise clean-up days and identify vulnerable residents. A Bunnings-style sausage sizzle, familiar across Australian towns, offers one practical fundraising model for buying tools, flood barriers or replacement equipment.

Lessons from Australian communities

Melbourne’s Yarra River parks show how river-adjacent facilities can require rapid inspection and coordinated closure after storms. Brisbane councils similarly plan for intense summer downpours, while Sydney has invested in nature-play areas that combine recreation with stormwater-sensitive landscaping. These examples support investment in playable, flood-tolerant landscapes rather than simply removing vulnerable equipment.

Australian communities also recognise the value of local volunteers. Community-run fetes, school fundraisers and Australia Day projects can keep small civic spaces in good condition. What matters is a defined responsibility, a maintenance budget and a route for residents to report problems without navigating bureaucratic barriers.

Measure	South Perthshire application	Australian reference
Flood-risk mapping	Identify exposed playgrounds and drainage failures	Melbourne’s Yarra River park network
Rapid inspection	Publish closures, safety findings and repair dates	Brisbane’s storm-response council procedures
Resilient design	Use permeable surfaces and flood-tolerant equipment	Sydney nature-play projects
Community upkeep	Support parent groups and local clean-up teams	Bunnings sausage sizzle fundraisers

The shared lesson is simple: public assets perform best when long-term planning, timely maintenance and community reporting operate together. Ewing’s proposed approach would place local evidence at the centre of that system.

Back Ewing’s campaign for safer play spaces

Ewing’s wider political case is built on protecting Scotland’s future. Greater control through independence would place more decisions about infrastructure, flood management and local services in Scottish hands. Her campaign for Westminster representation adds a national platform for defending Scotland’s communities and pursuing investment that improves everyday life.

Voters in Ochil and South Perthshire should check their polling place and registration details through official Scottish electoral channels. Anyone who has recently moved from Australia should confirm that they are on the Scottish electoral roll, as Australian enrolment does not carry across automatically, and should check postal-voting arrangements before the deadline.

Support the campaign by signing up for updates, sharing the flood-resilience proposals, volunteering at local events and contacting the team about canvassing. On polling day, vote for Annabelle Ewing and help secure safer play spaces, stronger communities and a more resilient Scotland.