RESIDENTS in Christchurch have launched a petition to save a small play area in the Purewell area which is due to be closed by BCP Council.

The Scotts Hill Lane playground, leased to the council from Meyrick Estates, was closed during the coronavirus pandemic but, when BCP Council announced the reopening of outdoor play parks across the conurbation, the playground of Scotts Hill Lane remained closed.

Charlotte Spanswick, who set up the petition, said: “After lockdown restrictions were eased, I went to take my two children to the playground and when we got there the park was closed.

“I had a look at the Christchurch Park Project that was announced in 2018 and this park is not on the list to parks that are being decommissioned

“I got chatting to a few people and I decided that actually, let’s set up a petition to stop the park from being closed.”

The Scotts Hill Lane play park was not included in a list of 11 parks which were proposed to be decommissioned by the former Christchurch Borough Council under their Play Legacy Project.

However, with approximately £4,800 needed for immediate repairs, BCP Council have said they will likely recommend for closure, subject to the results of a local open space assessment.

Charlotte, who lives in Purewell, added: “The amount it would cost to take out all of the equipment, dig up the tarmac and foam and then seed it would be ridiculous.

“The thing is the demographic that use parks like these are 10 and under and this park is perfect as it has a lot of small stuff for them to use.

“The council are happy to invest money in park in the tourism hotspots in the conurbation, but they aren’t prepared to put money into this park.

“A lot of parents are limited in the paces they can take their kids due to Covid-19 and it is quite nice to have a park that isn’t full of tourists, it just seems a real shame that they want to get rid of it.”

Having been set up Sunday September 20, the petition to save the play park has received 250 signatures as well as the backing of local councillors.

Cllr Michael Tarling: “The land is leased to the council by Meyrick Estates and there is only 17 years left on the lease.

“I don’t think there was enough consultation on it and a lot of people were unaware that it was staying closed.

“There is not really a play park around here that caters for young children around 10 years of age and younger. You have Mudeford Cricket Grounds and in town or you’ve got the park in Somerford the other way, that’s it really.

“To be honest, that is a long way to go if you have a push chair.”

Cllr Michael Tarling has said that Christchurch Town council are looking into taking over the ownership of the park in order to keep it going.

He added: “We have asked to look into whether the town council can take it on. We don’t really want to spend a lot of money on it because it is only a 17-year lease so we can’t justify spending thousands on it and then give the land back in 17 years unless the lease is renewed.

“What is going to happen to this piece of land? Is it going to be sold for housing?

“As far as I am concerned, it would never be zoned for housing because it is a buffer zone between the main road and the houses just off it, it ties in the meadows across the road.”

To sign the petition, visit www.change.org/p/keep-scotts-hill-lane-playground-open-please-stop-our-councils-taking-our-children-s-small-local-parks-away?.