Wandsworth Council to charge children to play in park Post Reply

[Chantal2011]

Just seen this and really shocked!! Surely the Council can find savings eleswhere?! I know some cuts are necessary - but to penalise children?! That's awful...

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... -please.do

[Talkman]

That's the Tories! Increase the council tax rather than creating an exclusive play area that'll prevent people on low incomes from using it. They're a bloody disgrace. They'll be putting toll gates on the commons next and implementing a buggy tax!

[nannyS]

Pilot scheme! Which means they then plan to continue across the borough, with all adventure playgrounds, York Gardens etc.etc. In areas where lots of children/young people live in over crowded flats and these outside play areas are vital to our community. Keeps young people off the street and out of trouble. We need to say NO Now, for our next generation.
There is a petition, as this was discussed in a parents group I attend. If anyone is interested, look on Wandsworths website.

[Chantal2011]

http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/ ... ID=1480328

Here is the link to the petition...

It is incredibly unfair - it's always women and children who get the brunt of these cuts.

[acachildcarers]

I am shocked to read this! I am sure that in this day and age where only a few months we were having thrown in our faces that children were not getting enough exercise, eating too much of the unhealthy food groups and being transfixed on TV and Game consoles there must be an alternative measure to make money!

Children need parks to challenge themselves physically in a "safe" environment and charging children for playing in a park is like charging them to jump in puddles!

Sorry feel very passionate about this!

[topmama]

There was a reporter from Radio 5 live (I think they said) interviewing parents/carers in Battersea Park Playground today about this!

Obviously I gave my option....most people seemed to be saying the same...so I may be on the radio!

[nannyS]

Thanks Chantal2011 for petition link.

Here's the link on what the council are saying. It's gone so high tech now that children from other boroughs are coming to use (need more staff, maintenance etc) so want to charge at weekends.

http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/artic ... re_opening

My points are that local children from low income families, who need this stimulation to keep them off the street and out of trouble will be the ones pushed out. Does that not mean at a later stage more crime in the area etc.etc. from these bored youths. Then the council will have to find the money for centres to rehabilitate these young people. So saving no money in the long term.

There are pros and cons, best to be open and free to our local children during the week than have to close down altogether. I suppose!!! ??? Maybe our Wandsworth children can have a free pass, but that does not seem fair on other children either. .

[WandsworthCouncil]

Wandsworth Council wishes to assure parents that it has no plans to charge for access to its playgrounds. The Battersea Park adventure playground is the only one that we will charge a small fee for at weekends - this is because of its size and scale and the high cost of running it. It is fully staffed at all times to ensure safety, requires regular maintenance of its equipment and is used extensively at weekends by people who do not live in the borough.

We wish to ensure we are able to continue maintaining and improving the playground without putting the entire burden on Wandworth council tax payers.

We have two other adventure playgrounds, and many other ordinary playgrounds, and there are no plans to charge for access to them.

[nannyinwandsworth]

What will the small fee at weekends be?

[shellbell83]

£2.50 for 5~16 year olds.

I think its disgusting. All this lottery money, and parents have to pay for a public park, absolutely disgusting !

[supergirl]

Hi
Just read this conversation and was also shocked myself when I read the news on the front page of some newspapers (can't remember which one though)...
I did a bit of research. They are not talking of every playground, only about adventure centres in general and the one in Battersea Park particularly. It doesn't sound good but it does sound less catastrophic, imagine a world where you ll have to pay (however little the fee is) to enjoy some nature!!!
My own view is that yes Battersea Park adventure ground is packed at w-e and one day a few of us couldn't even go in although we live in Wandsworth... Battersea Park is very popular and a fantastic place we are lucky to have it, if it is the price to pay to keep it then I am in! Although Wandsworth children should have a free pass I agree.

[Groucho]

but if your a resident do you get in free?

[Groucho]

you're even

[tony belton]

We, Labour Party members, here in Battersea and Wandsworth are outraged at the Council’s plan to charge £2.50 to play at the Adventure Playground in Battersea Park. Wandsworth Tories are a throw-back to the Nasty Party of the Thatcher years and we hope to force them to back down. If you want to help then please sign the e-petition at http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/ ... ID=1480328 .

The story has been on every radio station from Radio2 to Radio Jackie and got very wide coverage in most of the newspapers. We are collecting signatures at Asda on Saturday morning. Everyone we have spoken to is against the proposal. We even got a Tory councillor’s wife to sign our petition.

I hope you agree with us that this really is heartless, short-sighted Toryism at its worst..

Tony Belton, Labour Councillor

[Annabel (admin)]

Hello Everyone
There were two seperate conversations on NappyValleyNet about the plans to charge for access to the adventure playground.

I have merged them into one thread as there were comments by Wandsworth Council and the Labour Party that I felt should be in the same conversation.

Thank you

Annabel