Parents have saved the swings and slides at a children’s play area in Bath at the expense of another site nearby which “smells of wee”.
Parents at the feedback session at the Burnt House Road play area | Photo © Stephen Sumner
The play equipment in Burnt House Road will be retained, but the kit in Ridge Green Close will be taken away and replaced with “alternative play facilities”.
The changes are coming after Bath and North East Somerset Council reviewed nine of its 60 play parks in a bid to curb the annual maintenance costs of up to £400,000 a year.
It proposed swapping traditional play equipment for natural play features, or creating community gardens, wildflower meadows or allotments.
Parents reacted angrily to such plans for Burnt House Road, and told council officers at a consultation event there were less-used and worse cared for sites which should be considered first.
One resident said: “Ridge Green Close smells of wee. I can smell it 50 yards away.
“It hasn’t even got swings. The Burnt House Road one is used by families. This is good for kids. It is well used and well valued.
“Ridge Green Close is often used by teenagers late at night.”
The St Saviours play equipment is due to be taken away in the spring | Photo © Bath Echo
Another said: “My kids come to the Burnt House Road park all the time. They’re very upset. They don’t feel as safe at the other park. This play area has a lot more in it than Ridge Green Close.”
An officer told parents 500 people visited the Burnt House Road play area over a two-week period in September, compared to nearly 1,200 at Ridge Green Close.
But a council report published this week says: “At Burnt House Road, there was very strong feedback from residents that the nearby play area at Ridge Green Close is poorly used and comparatively unpopular and would be better suited to repurposing.
“The parks team subsequently undertook a similar consultation event at Ridge Green Close.
“There was a very low attendance and those that did attend were unanimous in support of the proposal to retain existing provision at nearby Burnt House Road and repurpose the space at Ridge Green Close.”
The nine sites in the review were included because they were not in deprived areas and there were other facilities nearby.
This is what is planned at the other sites included in the review:
- The play equipment is set to be removed from Calton Road in Widcombe, with the site landscaped to create natural play features. The council will work with the Widcombe Residents Association to apply for funding. Residents will be consulted on the final design.
- The play equipment is due to taken away from St Saviours in the spring. The council will consult on plans to improve the wider landscape with new paths, trees and benches.
- The play equipment will be removed from Parry Close before the end of March and replaced with trees and a bench.
- Loxton Road was also included in the review. No changes are now planned there due to the limited scope for providing alternative facilities.
- The play areas at Collier’s Way in Haydon and Manor Copse in Writhlington are set to be transferred to Radstock Town Council, with the latter site set to get £18,500 in developer cash to match fund investment.
- After public concerns, the play equipment will be retained in Chalfield in Keynsham. The council will work with stakeholders to “develop a strategic plan for resourcing play area provision in Keynsham”.
- Hillside Crescent in Midsomer Norton could be turned into a community garden or a mixed growing and play space, with £26,835 in match funding.
The council will carry out further consultations on its plans.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
