*Warning – graphic images featured in the story below*
A tough campaign aiming to highlight the dangers of playing in vacant building sites to youngsters in Gedling borough launched this week.
Property firm VPS decided to launch their “‘Have a good Summer break’ doesn’t mean break a leg” campaign on social media following a recent spate of children suffering serious or sometimes fatal injuries on vacant property sites.
One of the images featured in the hard-hitting campaign shows a child’s broken leg with bone visible (below).
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“A mixture of curiosity, of daring one another to take risks, or by just not realising the potential dangers means kids are unwittingly taking a step that could lead to a broken leg or worse.”
As summer holidays approach, empty and derelict buildings will become a magnet for children looking to explore and play in them. Neglected buildings are full of hidden dangers such as weak roofs, staircases that lead to nowhere, broken glass, rusty metal railings and holes in the ground covered by rubbish.
But the campaign isn’t just being directed at young people but also at landlords and managers of unoccupied properties in the area and construction sites left temporarily vacant.
Mr Pringle added: “Because they are dangerous places, property owners and managers of vacant sites should do their utmost to keep them safe and secure whilst they lie empty.
“Combustible materials should be removed, the security of perimeters and all access points checked regularly, and, for particularly vulnerable sites, they should consider CCTV monitoring. Also some vacant buildings that are in a decent state could be made inhabitable and suitable for live-in guardians. Occupied buildings are less susceptible to trespassers.”
