We’re fuming after our newbuild estate playground was left to rot for 2 YEARS – now our kids must play on the busy road
PARENTS have told of their fury after the playground on their newbuild estate was left to rot – forcing kids to play on the busy “road” instead. The state-of-the-art park was built in 2020 as part of a new housing estate in Poole, Dorset. But it has been fenced off for the last two years […]
PARENTS have told of their fury after the playground on their newbuild estate was left to rot – forcing kids to play on the busy “road” instead.
The state-of-the-art park was built in 2020 as part of a new housing estate in Poole, Dorset.
But it has been fenced off for the last two years while waiting for a safety inspection – meaning kids are banned from using it.
A threatening sign on the padlocked gate warns: “Children must not play on this site,” while wide-eyed little ones are forced to walk past its swings, slides, and climbing frames.
Families have been left baffled by the “ridiculous” situation – claiming their desperate kids are forced to play on the “busy road” instead.
Georgia Darnier, 26, said: “It does seem a bit ridiculous that it isn’t open when it looks fine to use.
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“Some of the older children sneak in and use it anyway.
“We moved here at the end of 2019 and it was open for a couple of months – then it closed after it was vandalised.”
The mum, who lives near the park with her husband and 18-month-old daughter, Ida, added: “You would think that now they’d be able to get somebody to check it is safe.
“My daughter hears the other kids playing and wants to use it – we’re waiting and as soon as it’s open we’ll be in there.
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“There are multiple young families here – it’s a shame because the park is fully functional but it’s been left to wreck and ruin”.
The playground has been left to deteriorate while developers Barratt Homes arrange for it to be inspected.
But they have still not made any progress, blaming the lengthy delay on the pandemic.
Natalie Harris, 26, said: “I have two young kids and they’re desperate to get in.
“The developers sold the plot to us by saying the park was there for us to use – but it’s been closed since we moved here in November 2019.”
Another mum, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Nobody understands why it isn’t open – it’s overgrown and horrible.
They end up playing on the road and it’s quite dangerous – if the park was open they wouldn’t have to do that. It’s causing a lot of frustration.
Mum
“They sold it to us as a facility everyone could use – but there are a lot of children here now with nowhere else to play because they don’t have gardens.
“They end up playing on the road and it’s quite dangerous – if the park was open they wouldn’t have to do that. It’s causing a lot of frustration.”
Meanwhile, resident Mallika Tamwada said the park was one of the main reasons why she bought her house.
The 39-year-old explained: “It was one of the most important criteria – my nieces and nephews come here every weekend and we wanted them to be able to play in there.
“It’s so sad – it’s a waste of space. If it’s usable then it should be opened.”
Another desperate mum added: “It is not fair on the children. My boy can see it from his bedroom window but he can’t go in.”
Mark Keen, construction director at Barratt/David Wilson Homes, said: “The play park at Thomas Walk on our Canford Paddock development has been closed for some time due to delays in inspections that are necessary to ensure the safety of the park.
“Inspections are carried out by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), but during the pandemic it’s not been possible to arrange for someone to come down the site in as timely a manner as we’d like.”
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He added: “It is vital we have approval from ROSPA to ensure the park is safe for families to use so Barratt Homes has fenced off the area. As a matter of urgency, we have arranged essential maintenance work to be carried out.
“Without the ROSPA certificate, we are unable to open the park, but we’re hoping this will change very soon.”
