'Unfinished and unsafe' playground demolished

An "unsafe" children's playground in Worcestershire has been demolished after it remained unfinished for five years.

The play area in Banks Close, Hallow was left in that state after housing developer Piper Homes going into liquidation.

"Our children have never been able to use this as it was never finished and deemed unsafe, it is a real shame for it to sit there going to waste," said residents Amy and Adam Peoples.

Malvern Hills District Council said: "Whilst it is highly unusual to seek to remove play equipment from a relatively new housing development, in this case it has been demonstrated [the play area] is surplus to requirements."

"To ensure the site is retained as public open space and is used as efficiently as possible, a landscaping condition is suggested so that details of the layout and uses of the site can be considered prior to the play equipment being removed," the council added.

Other residents said they were relieved to see the playground removed, including 13 people who voiced their support on the council's planning portal.

Elizabeth Tunnicliffe said it had become "a potential site for anti-social activities" and suggested replacing the play area with a bench and maybe "a tree or two".

Others suggested turning the area into a space for skateboarding or a cycling pump track.

"There are play spaces in every other development and our children deserve the same," one person said.

Judith Kettle said its removal "should not be taken lightly", adding that future residents or visitors may welcome a renovated playground.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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