Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East, has called for better support for playgrounds in his constituency during a debate in Westminster Hall.
The debate took place on 10 September and was the second time this year he has spoken on the issue, following a previous discussion in January. Earlier this month he also launched the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play, which aims to strengthen focus on children’s access to play nationally.
Mr Hayes highlighted that one in eight children in the UK do not have access to a garden, and that nearly 800 play spaces have closed over the past decade. In Bournemouth East, he said only 35 percent of children live within reach of a playground.
He referred to Kings Park playground on Ashley Road, where he had pushed for improvements. He noted the poor condition of some equipment and said: “The sudden removal of equipment without warning or explanation has deepened frustration. It struck such a chord with Year 6 students from Kings Park Academy that they staged a protest on their final day of school.”
Mr Hayes also raised the closure of 13 playgrounds in Muscliffe, Strouder Park and Townsend, which he said had left residents feeling that the new playground in Langford Way was a trade-off rather than an increase in provision. He added that play should be considered an essential part of community life, not just limited to formal playgrounds.
As part of its Plan for Play strategy, BCP Council has mapped and audited 171 play sites and 1,175 pieces of equipment. The authority has confirmed it will spend nearly £4 million refurbishing playgrounds across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
