'Safety considered throughout': Fareham council defends new playground design without fence

Fareham Borough Council has said that “safety has been considered throughout” the design of a controversial new playground that has seen nearly a thousand people sign a petition requesting a fence be put around the play equipment.

The original Fareham town centre play park was deemed unsafe over the summer, so the council allocated funds from the Fareham Town Centre Regeneration programme to install a better play area with new equipment, which is due to open on October 7.

However, the new playground will not have a fence surrounding it, sparking concerns over children’s safety and accessibility. Instead, the playground will be surrounded by planters and benches.

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Councillor Gemma Furnivall, who represents Fort Fareham, worries that the lack of fencing will ostracise some families from using the new play park and decided to start a petition to encourage the council to install fencing.

Two days after the launch of the petition it had nearly 1000 signatures, with parents worried about their children running off in the busy town centre.

Councillor Frair Burgess, Executive Member for Leisure and Community at Fareham Borough Council said in response that “no single design will meet everyone’s different needs”.

She said: “We understand the concerns some parents and carers have raised about the new play area and we take them seriously. It is important to recognise that the new West Street play area is not intended to be a traditional destination play area.

“It has been designed as part of the wider pedestrianised town centre, providing somewhere for families to stop for a while and play when visiting the shops and other facilities. This approach reflects established national guidance on good play-space design, which encourages play to be integrated into the wider public realm.

“Current government guidance says that councils should use local evidence, engagement and professional judgement to determine the most appropriate design for each location. It also highlights the importance of accessibility, openness, clear sightlines, seating and connections with the surrounding public space.

“At West Street, raised planters, seating and carefully positioned equipment are used to create a clearly defined play space within the wider pedestrian environment. The edging treatment helps establish a dedicated area for play, discouraging people from walking through the space and disrupting play activities, while maintaining an open and welcoming town-centre feel.

“The design also responds directly to feedback received during consultation about increasing greening and planting at street level and providing more places for people to sit and spend time in the town centre. Unlike the previous seating arrangement, which was located outside the play area and faced away from it, the new benches overlook the play space, allowing parents and carers to supervise and interact with their children more easily.

“Low-level planting maintains clear sightlines across the area while creating a more attractive setting and contributing to the wider public realm. By using planters and seating we have been able to create a more inclusive and integrated space and maximise the amount and variety of play equipment available, including accessible and sensory play features.

“Safety has been considered throughout. A specific risk assessment has looked at the absence of fencing, children moving beyond the play area, visibility, accessibility and the surrounding pedestrianised environment. The play area will also undergo an independent safety inspection before opening, with any recommendations addressed before it comes into use.

“We believe the design strikes an appropriate balance between safety, accessibility and creating an attractive, welcoming and family-friendly town-centre space that encourages play while enhancing the wider public realm.”