A LEADING authority on play has stepped in to the row over the public consultation about the installation of new play equipment at Alexandra Park in Poole.
Gordon Sturrock, who has helped form national play guidelines and lectured on the subject, suggested the council had been “backtracking” in the face of increasing residents’ pressure.
Installation of new play equipment in the park, funded by the government’s Playbuilder scheme, was held up after residents insisted they were not fully consulted.
But the council maintains that a full consultation was carried out in the area prior to the purchase of the equipment, which included a zip wire and a rebound wall.
Mr Sturrock said: “The council knew there was a tight deadline to meet for the funding and I think there has been a cover-up.
“If the consultation was carried out with the local community, why have there been such strong representations from residents?
“The council has backtracked because of the pressure of the deadline and the nature of the objections.”
Mr Sturrock suggested the council carried out a “global” consultation, rather than the “local” type set out in the Playbuilder guidelines.
He also suggested Play England might not be “comfortable” in providing funding for other play parks in Poole if the Alexandra Park consultation was flawed.
But Carolyn Port, Playbuilder’s programme manager for the South West, insisted this would not be the case.
She said: “Poole council is well within the terms and conditions set out. “There is no question of us putting a spanner in the works.”
Clare Freeman, the council’s greenspace manager, said they had listened to the views of the whole community.
She said: “Play England agree our consultation process followed the agreed framework.
“The overwhelming response from the majority of people has been very positive.”
Installation of the equipment in Alexandra Park is now almost complete.
