Council accused of ‘misleading’ residents in town centre playground row

A row over an unfenced children’s playground has intensified after a formal complaint accusing a council of misleading residents was lodged.

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr David Hamilton submitted the complaint to Fareham Borough Council on Monday, October 26, following controversy surrounding the West Street play area.

The complaint partly concerns how the council dealt with residents who wanted to speak about the playground fence at the recent meeting.

According to Cllr Hamilton, residents were advised by email to make their deputations when the matter went before the Executive instead.

However, the council later said that residents “were not advised against giving deputations”.

Cllr Hamilton said: “Families are worried about their children. They asked to be heard. The council advised them to speak elsewhere, then publicly denied advising against deputations.

“That is a misleading account of what happened. Residents deserve honesty, not damage control.”

The complaint also challenges the handling of a motion proposed by Labour Cllr Gemma Furnivall and seconded by Liberal Democrat Cllr Kirsten Wiltshire calling for options for enclosing the playground to be assessed.

The pair were not allowed to debate the motion at full council before it was referred to the Executive.

Cllr Hamilton claims this contradicted an interpretation given by Conservative council leader Cllr Simon Martin in February that proposers and seconders could speak on motions before referral.

He said: “In my view, these rules have been twisted against opposition councillors.”

The complaint also asks for a potential conflict of interest involving an officer’s responsibilities to be examined and calls for an independent external investigation.

Its allegations have not yet been independently determined.

Cllr Martin denied there had been any change to speaking rules.

He said: “The motion brought to full council is a matter for the Executive and so has been sent there.

“Under our standing orders the motion is not read out or debated at full council.”

He suggested the complainant should instead make a deputation to the Executive when the matter is considered.

The playground has faced controversy since September, when residents raised concerns about the decision not to install a perimeter fence around the revamped play area.

A petition calling for fencing attracted more than 1,000 signatures, with campaigners arguing the open design makes the playground difficult to use for some children, including those with autism and additional needs.

The previous play area had been enclosed, while the council has said the decision to create an open design was deliberate and intended to make the new facility more accessible and integrated with the pedestrianised town centre.