A long battle over a children’s playground near the Caversham Road has ended in a victory for local parents and residents who wanted to keep the play area open.
A small number of residents had complained repeatedly to local councillors and Council officers of anti-social behaviour in the area around the playground in Denbeigh Place, but other residents disputed these claims and told local Councillors the playground was well-used by local parents and they had seen no trouble there. The Neighbourhood Police team recently confirmed that for the last 18 months there had been no significant incidents of anti-social behaviour in Denbeigh Place.
A planning application to close the play area has been submitted based on comments from a small number of residents back in 2008, and, ignoring the realities of more recent experience, the Tory candidate in May’s local election campaigned for closure of the play area and Con-Dem Councillors on the Planning Committee then voted to close the play area and move the equipment to Rivermead site, which is some way away across a busy road.
Labour Councillors for Abbey Ward, knowing that the views of residents had swung in favour of the Denbeigh Place playground, the only one this built-up area, joined residents and the local Bell Tower Community Association in a campaign against the planning application and for the play area to stay open, a campaign which included a deluge of mail from residents and questions to the chair at Planning Committee.
The three Labour councillors called for the closure proposal to be withdrawn, and this is what has happened. Recognising the strength of the campaign, and the high level of usage of the play area, the Council’s Parks Department has withdrawn the planning application and the Denbeigh Place playground is safe!
Labour Councillor Bet Tickner says :”The news that the Denbeigh Place play area is there to stay is a sweet victory for local residents. It’s a quiet but active community living near the town centre, so children need space to play. I’m personally grateful to all who worked with us as Councillors to achieve this result: there’s no doubt in my mind it’s the right one”
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