Council to invest £403,000 in new parks equipment

Replacing ageing vehicles and machinery is set to cost a council an estimated £403,000.

Rotherham Council has proposed spending the cash on vehicles used to maintain parks and green spaces across the borough.

The funding, which includes cash for for five electric buggies, new tractors and mowers, would be spread over two years.

The proposals form part of the council's wider capital budget plans and will be considered as part of the authority's overall budget-setting process.

Plans include replacing equipment used by staff at Clifton Park, Rother Valley Country Park, Waleswood Caravan Site and the borough's watersports centre.

If approved, the cash would also pay for specialist equipment such as telescopic handlers, a wood chipper and a remote-controlled flail, designed to safely cut steep banks.

To allow equipment to be moved safely between sites, the council also plans to buy a road trailer.

Council papers state much of the existing machinery is "old, unreliable and expensive to repair", with a tractor currently used at Rother Valley Country Park listed as more than 20 years old.

Officials said replacing the equipment would "reduce breakdowns, improve efficiency and allow more work to be carried out in-house," rather than being outsourced to contractors.

They also said the use of electric vehicles would help cut fuel costs and emissions.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, costs are expected to be offset by lower maintenance bills and reduced reliance on hired machinery.

However, council documents warn rising prices could push costs higher, and that delays in replacing the equipment could lead to worsening conditions, higher repair bills and potential safety risks.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North