Published: 2013 February 11 23:06:43 (3180 Views)

Children and parents in the Cotswolds have been left dismayed after a local playground was fenced off while local residents argue whether it is too brightly coloured.

The play area was a major attraction to families when they moved to the area, with some paying up to £500,000 for properties on the estate Corinium Via estate.

But when the play area was completed last summer a handful of locals complained that the size and colour scheme of the playground were not "in keeping" with the area.

Developer Redrow Homes erected a metal fence around the site and vowed to re-paint the swings and climbing frames, which are primarily red, green and blue.

But the area has remained sealed off ever since - and Redrow is now seeking planning permission to change the colour scheme and re-locate some of the equipment.
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Elizabeth Lloyd, 33, who lives opposite the park, said her four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter are desperate to play on the equipment.

She said: "People have complained that it was too brightly coloured and not in keeping with the local colour scheme.

"Redrow offered to take it away and paint it dark green. Then people started complaining it was too big and that it could distract drivers going past.

"It's ridiculous, the only people complaining are people who don't have children.

"My husband and I bought our house specifically because it was going to overlook the park, but I'm sick of staring at an iron fence."

Shelleigh Bailey, 39, who lives nearby, said she blames snobbery in the affluent area.

"Someone's complained about it being too bright," she said. "I would understand it if it was some cheap metal play park, but it's actually very nice.

"I think it's not seen as 'Cotswolds' enough. It's a shame for the kids because they have waited a long time to play on it."

The Redrow homes on the Corinium Via estate, at Kingshill on the edge of Cirencester, Glos., were completed in August last year.

Many of the properties are finished in traditional Cotswold stone in keeping with the local landscape.

Redrow set aside half-an-acre for a play area which would be built once construction was nearing completion on the rest of the site.

The park contains slides, swings, rockers, monkey bars, a climbing frame and a cargo net.

But before it could even open some locals complained that it was too big, too bright and too visible to passing traffic on the main road.

The developer agreed to re-paint the equipment dark green and left the construction barriers in place - where they still remain today.

Elizabeth, who moved into a four-bedroomed £450,000 house with her husband Bruce in December 2011, said she would now rather have the park removed completely.

She said: "The people who are complaining about it don't have children.

"My kids have sat and looked at this for the best part of a year. It's pretty miserable.

"We need parks and spaces for children. At the end of the day it's a park and we all bought homes knowing it would be built."

Redrow Homes has now applied for planning permission to change the colour and move some of the play equipment.

But Gavin Hill, Technical Director for Redrow Homes, denied that the area is bigger than permitted.

He said: "Due to concerns raised by some residents over the new playground's colour scheme at the opening has been delayed.

"In response to the complaints, Redrow has agreed with residents and Cotswold District Council to adjust the colour of the equipment and move a few play items further away from dwellings.

- Telegraph

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