Oxfordshire village play park fenced off by housebuilder

Cholsey Meadows play park is in the housing development off Reading Road, which was built between 2012 and 2015 by developer Vistry Group.

The parish council has been attempting to acquire the management of the play park for several years, but the condition of some of the equipment has prevented the transfer of ownership.

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Now, some of the wooden play structures have been fenced off by the housebuilder for ‘health and safety’ reasons.

A spokesperson for Vistry said: “One piece of timber play equipment at the Cholsey Meadows play area has recently been identified as unsafe due to rot and has been fenced off as a precaution following a recent inspection.

“Repairs are now being progressed. There have been delays arranging the work as the equipment was installed by a specialist contractor and other installers were unable to carry out repairs without risking invalidating any remaining warranties.

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“The fencing has only recently been put up in place while the issue is addressed and it will remain in place until the equipment is made safe.”

Cholsey Parish Council released a statement which said: “We are very disappointed and frustrated that the situation has reached the point where play equipment now needs to be fenced off.”

The council said it has made ‘continued and repeated efforts’ to take control of the play area, but a ‘significant planning issue’ which has to be resolved by the developer before the site can be transferred was discovered by South Oxfordshire District Council last year.