Future of former Thatcham play area debated

Options for old play area include creating a sports area, a green lung, outdoor gym, basic repairs or affordable housing

RESIDENTS in Browning Close will have to wait to see what the future holds for a former play area.

Thatcham Town Council’s preferred option was to use the land to provide car parking for residents but abandoned the idea after it emerged that the council would hold full responsibility for managing and policing the parking, but would not be able to benefit financially from the arrangement.

The land was transferred to the town council by the Treasury Solicitor’s Department for £1 in 1994, following the dissolution of the Whitelands Residents Association and Playgroup Ltd in 1986. The town council covenanted that the transferred land “shall only be used for amenity purposes”.

The play area was removed in the 1990s following complaints from residents.

At a meeting this week, councillors were called to consider four options for the site – sports equipment costing around £40,000, a green lung (£35,000), an outdoor gym (£30,000) or to leave the land as it is at around £8,000 to fix subsidence and repair a wall.

Weighing up the options as chair of the meeting Dominic Boeck (Con, Thatcham south and Crookham) said he liked the idea of a green lung but if it were used as an informal public right of way the area would not last very long.

He also agreed with using the land for sports but added that he was not sure how much use it would receive.

But another option was brought to the table when Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham north) suggested that the site be used for affordable housing.

Replying that the land was no bigger than the council chamber, Jason Collis (Con, Thatcham north) said: “I struggle to see how you’d put affordable housing on that land... would you want to live in a car park?” and suggested that the priority was to make the area safe.

“I’m well aware of what the land is but I’m also aware of the need for affordable housing and I would rather build on brownfield sites,” Mr Dillon replied.

Sheila Ellison (Con, Thatcham north) said that residents had previously supported the idea of using the land as a green space but added that she was amazed at the £35,000 cost, mainly through digging up Tarmac.

Mr Dillon suggested that the covenant be assessed to see whether affordable housing could be built on the site.

Earlier this year, the Treasury Solicitor’s Department said that the Government was unlikely to release the council from the covenant because, should the value of the land subsequently increase, the Treasury would not benefit.

This could then lead to claims that the Government, and therefore the taxpayer, had lost out financially.