The surfacing of the park in Brent is said to have deteriorated to such an extent that it poses a “risk for children”
A North London council has been forced to close a children’s playground in one of its parks due to safety concerns, just one month after it was awarded Green Flag status.
The decision has been described as “a farce” by some parents, who claim they have been raising the issue of its deteriorating surface “for years”.
Last month, Preston Park, a roughly 7.45 hectare area of green space to the north of the borough, was accredited with a Green Flag – an international accreditation awarded to public parks and open spaces that are “welcoming and accessible, well-maintained and clean”.
The park boasts a number of sports pitches and courts – including a bowls green, cricket square, outdoor gym and tennis courts – alongside a pavilion and children’s play area. However, some parents have been left “deeply disappointed” after learning that Brent Council has closed the playground just weeks after the award, describing it as a “risk for children using the space”.
In an email sent by the council’s Head of Parks, parents were notified that the Preston Park playground was to close immediately due to safety concerns.
Contractors advised that temporary repairs would not work and a “full scale resurfacing” is needed, according to the email, meaning the playground would need to be closed whilst the council gets quotes for the works.
A concerned parent told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Parents have been raising concerns about the playground’s deteriorating safety surface for years, whilst also asking for genuine community consultation on how money is invested in our park. To see the playground now closed during the summer holidays, just weeks after Preston Park received Green Flag status, is deeply disappointing.”
This is not the first time Brent Council has faced criticism over hazardous play areas. It follows a similar incident at Woodcock Park in Kenton, where the local authority was heavily criticised for leaving a condemned, wire-exposed climbing frame open to children for weeks.
The Head of Parks said the decision on Preston Park was not taken lightly, but is necessary due to the council’s responsibility to “provide safe places for play”. The closest alternative children’s playgrounds can be found at Northwick Park, John Billam Open Space and Woodcock Park.
Families are demanding to know how long remedial works will take, what their rising council tax is being used for, and how the park managed to pass the Green Flag assessment only last month.
A spokesperson for Brent Council told the LDRS: “We’re sorry that we’ve had to temporarily close the playground at Preston Park. We appreciate how frustrating this will be for families, particularly during the summer months, but the safety of Brent residents must always be our first priority.
“The decision was taken after inspections found that the safety surfacing had deteriorated and could increase the risk of accidents. Unfortunately, the surfacing across the play equipment now needs to be replaced. The playground is inspected every 10 to 14 days, and we had initially hoped that patch repairs would be enough to address the problem. However, further assessment showed that the damage was more extensive than first thought.
“We have obtained quotes for the necessary work and are working through the funding and practical arrangements needed to get this underway. Our priority is to make sure the playground is safe and to get it back up and running as soon as possible so families can get back to enjoying Preston Park.
“Preston Park’s Green Flag Award remains valid, as the award assesses a range of criteria across the whole park. We recognise the inconvenience this closure causes and thank residents for their patience and understanding.”
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