Mums chain themselves to community's trampoline to stop council from removing it
Two mums say they are prepared to chain themselves to their trampoline after the council threatened to remove it in a health and safety row.
Sisters Melissa Jamie and Katie Carter scrimped and saved to buy the £600 set for children in their community to keep them out of danger.
But health and safety bosses say it needs to go - saying they could be sued if a child was to get hurt.
The devastated pair stood out in protest on Wednesday as four council officers turned up at their homes in Bartley Green, Birmingham, to take it away, telling them, "if you touch the trampoline, you'll have to pay us".
Now they say they are fully prepared to do whatever necessary to keep the trampoline, as well as taking full responsibility were anything to happen.
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Melissa Jamie (far right) with three of the nine children in the community the trampoline was bought for (BPM Media)"I already said I'm not removing it, I will get a few chains and chain it to the post - and chain ourselves to it as well," Melissa told BirminghamLive.
The sisters have already put up a sign saying all children on the toy must be supervised, as well as offering to sign a waiver.
Melissa and Katie saved up for seven months along with two other families to buy the trampoline for up to nine children in the community.
It was bought after one girl was struck by a driver nearby, with parents clubbing together to buy something which would keep the children from playing near the road.
"[The council officers] were supposed to take it," Melissa said.
The kids face losing their beloved trampoline as the council takes measures to prevent being sued if someone falls off (BPM Media)"But when they came out we warned them not to touch the trampoline, we said 'touch it and you will have to pay us'.
"They say they cannot afford for someone to sue them over any potential injuries. They said 'if anyone's hurt, you will sue the council.'
"We have even said we will sign something to waiver it, that if someone does get hurt, we will be fully responsible."
"I told them they will have to take us to court. They asked me to sign a piece of paper, I said 'shove your paper'.
"They said if I don't sign that, the next step will be removing it."
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The parents have taken a measure to stop kids using it without adults present (BPM Media)"It's not safe outside. I told them a little girl had already been run over and hurt," Melissa added. "And it's our property, we saved up and paid for it.
"I took it up with the MP today....I had a swimming pool out there for two years, I'd be out jet washing it every week, and no one said anything, so why wasn't that a problem?
"They are trying to deprive the kids of the trampoline, many of them have ADHD, autism and other conditions. It's not like it's just one child who uses it, there's about eight or nine."
Birmingham's environment boss Coun Majid Mahmood previously said it was too big a risk for the council to bear.
He said: “If any third party such as a community group has play equipment or similar furniture that is intended for public land or existing council-maintained play areas, it needs to be discussed with us prior to installation.
“If the relevant safety checks and measures are not carried out along with agreements around the issue of maintenance, it places the council at risk of liability if any incidents occur.
“This exposes taxpayers across the city to a risk that it is not possible to bear.
“We do have a framework for parks infrastructure and can buy for groups items that meet the correct standards if they work with us in advance.”
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