Tadley children's play area opens after 3 year wait

Space to let off steam in summer holidays

Tadley children living on a major housing development in the town can let off steam over the long summer holidays, after a large play area finally opened last week – after a three-year wait.

Children were left looking wistfully through the fence of the play area, which remained closed three years after the housing scheme opened within the Titherley Park development, off the A340 at the gateway to Tadley.

However, site owner, Bellway Homes, has confirmed the play area was opened last Thursday after being cleared in a further safety inspection by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council officers.

Opening of the play area, completed several months ago, had been held up due to safety concerns, including that fingers could be trapped in some of the equipment, and that fencing around the playground was not substantial enough in certain places.

Basingstoke and Deane borough councillor, Robert Tate (Con Baughurst and Tadley North), confirmed borough council officers had inspected the playground, aimed at children aged up to seven, twice recently.

Equipment includes seats on springs and climbing frames, set in a soft floor area and designed to employ the children’s physical skills.

Mr Tate added that the playground had been passed on the second safety inspection, and the maintenance and management of the playground was now under the remit of the borough council, following a handover by Bellway Homes.

A spokesperson for Bellway Homes, Sasha O’Neill, said: “I have great pleasure in confirming that the Tadley play area has been handed over to the local authority on the 30th of July.”

She said the borough council had taken over the liability and maintenance of the play area and the freehold of the play area would also pass to the borough council in 12 months time.

Mr Tate said he had become aware of the situation after one or two “persistent” enquiries from his ward members, and had therefore asked borough council officers what was causing the hold up.

“It’s been opened a bit later than we would have liked, in view of the summer holidays – but better than at the end,” he said.

Mr Tate pointed out that the playground was a public space, and could therefore be used by any children in the town, but was more likely to be used by families who lived at the development, due to ease of access.

Tadley Town Council leader, David Leeks, last month described it as a “scandalous situation that such a large housing development should remain without a play area” for three years and in the run-up to the summer holidays.