A CLYDEBANK mum has hit out at West Dunbartonshire Council following claims that they are committed to making play parks accessible for all youngsters.

Claire McCann was left feeling “disgusted” after finding out that there was not one piece of play equipment that her son could use across Clydebank.

Eleven-month-old, Oliver Brown, has additional support needs (ASN), and struggles to support himself after he suffered from a bleed in the brain when he was in the womb.

This has resulted in him having mobility difficulties and not meeting the usual milestones.

Claire, from Faifley, said: “I asked on Facebook if there were any local parks that had an adapted swing, but everybody was suggesting places like Rouken Glen and Maryhill, and I just thought ‘this is ridiculous’.

“Off the top of my head I can think of seven parks in Clydebank, and there’s probably more, but not one has an adapted swing. It made me really sad.

“I messaged the council and they replied saying there’s one in Levengrove Park, but that’s a 20-minute drive or two buses.

“For me, when we go to the park we walk because we have a dog as well.”

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The 31-year-old is now appealing for the local authority to build an adapted swing in Clydebank, with the aim of introducing more in the future.

“I will do everything I can,” she said.

“One adapted swing wouldn’t be a huge dent in their budget. It’s a disgrace that in this day and age there aren’t any.”

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council told the Post: “We are committed to making our play areas accessible for all our young people, and are introducing an adapted swing which gives extra head and body support to children with additional needs in the playpark at Levengrove Park.

“If this swing is well received we will look to roll these out across West Dunbartonshire.”

But Claire hit out at the local authority’s response.

She said: “They provide parks to so many children yet children with additional needs are being penalised and left out through no fault of their own because the council obviously don’t see the issue as a priority.

“Also, saying they are committed to making their play areas accessible for all young people - how exactly are they doing that by providing only one swing at one park in Dumbarton?

“I just think as such a big community, we’ve got lots of great things such as Golden Friendships and Kilpatrick School, but no play equipment for children with ASN.

“I was saying to myself that I don’t expect every park to have an adapted swing then I thought ‘you know what? Every park should’. Why should there be restrictions to where my son can go?

“I don’t want him feeling any more left out than he needs to or not experiencing things that other kids do.”

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Kilpatrick area councillor Douglas McAllister told the Post that he is now “determined” for the adapted equipment to be introduced in a park in Clydebank after Claire brought it to his attention.

He said: “It’s clearly something that has to be addressed immediately.

“At the very least, one of these swings should be introduced in a park in the Clydebank area - whether that’s an existing play park or one of the ones being built.

“Even if we have to build a completely new park then so be it.

“I’m absolutely determined for one at the very least, but we want more than that for Oliver, and all the other children who need it.”

Councillor McAllister has asked council officers to look into an adapted swing being built at the play area under construction in Goldenhill Park.

He added: “I’m delighted that Claire has brought this to my attention. I will do everything I can to help.”