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AIBU?

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Original poster

Can I use the playground of a council estate if we don't live there?

803 replies

Mummy1608 · 09/02/2022 14:04

Quick question...

I live right outside a really big council estate. (Eg I walk through it everyday as a shortcut to my local train station, that's how close I am and how big it is.) It's got a lovely playground in it with lots of cool climbing bits etc. Can I go there with my DD or do you think it's frowned on if I don't live there, because it's meant to be for residents? I can't find anywhere whether this isn't allowed, but it might be technically allowed but still frowned on? My next nearest playground is much smaller (although always empty) and a 15 min walk away.

Tldr can I take my dd to the council estate playground?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
21
nitsandwormsdodger · 09/02/2022 16:17

Hadaverde can you call/ email your local council and post what they tell you here please

Toanewstart23 · 09/02/2022 16:18

@ClawedButler

I'm a bit confused by this: Strangely the estate was in the middle of quite an affluent area and we would get children coming to use the playground. It wasn't a huge deal but it wasn't really for them to use and they had loads of other places they could go, whereas for the kids on the estate that was all they had.

What was stopping the estate kids going to any of these other places nearby?

Absolutely nothing.
HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 16:18

I’ve posted an excerpt upthread from Islington council regarding the use of communal facilities provided for tenants.

What I’m saying isn’t my opinion, it’s how things work on estates like that with shared communal facilities.

I’ve had similar in my own tenancy agreements too. Wording that outlines your entitlement to use said facilities and even a part about your own visitors also being able to use them under your supervision and that you are responsible for any damage caused by your visitors.

These types of facilities really aren’t for the use of the general public.

SockFluffInTheBath · 09/02/2022 16:21

@MrsGHarrison87

I'm unsure on this. I used to live on a rough council estate and they built a wooden kids playground on the green in front of the flats for the kids who lived there as most of the people there were deprived and a lot of kids there wouldn't leave the estate other than to go to school. Strangely the estate was in the middle of quite an affluent area and we would get children coming to use the playground. It wasn't a huge deal but it wasn't really for them to use and they had loads of other places they could go, whereas for the kids on the estate that was all they had. I've moved away from there now and though this area is still quite close to me I wouldn't use it because there are plenty of public playgrounds nearby.
I can understand this sort of feeling- that incoming kids who can be ferried anywhere might take over facilities meant for local kids who can’t be ferried everywhere and in that instance maybe the ‘outsiders’ could go elsewhere. But that brings the problem of a form of social engineering by way of limiting mixing of different groups.

We live on the boundary of 3 counties and when DC were little would tart ourselves round all the local parks/playgrounds- even though we only ‘pay in’ to one county. Other families do the same, and I’ve never met any animosity.

BasiliskStare · 09/02/2022 16:22

@Toanewstart23 "Ringing the council would be a total waste of time" - I see your point but not sure I completely agree with you . Maybe I had decent councillors who would check up .

Toanewstart23 · 09/02/2022 16:22

@HadaVerde

I’ve posted an excerpt upthread from Islington council regarding the use of communal facilities provided for tenants.

What I’m saying isn’t my opinion, it’s how things work on estates like that with shared communal facilities.

I’ve had similar in my own tenancy agreements too. Wording that outlines your entitlement to use said facilities and even a part about your own visitors also being able to use them under your supervision and that you are responsible for any damage caused by your visitors.

These types of facilities really aren’t for the use of the general public.

I have gone through your posts and seem to have missed

Where is the excerpt from the council?

Wheelz46 · 09/02/2022 16:23

If that is the case why is there no signs stating so and regarding you being responsible for any damage, are they relying on residents honesty because there is no way of knowing who is responsible for any damage!

Toanewstart23 · 09/02/2022 16:24

[quote BasiliskStare]@Toanewstart23 "Ringing the council would be a total waste of time" - I see your point but not sure I completely agree with you . Maybe I had decent councillors who would check up .[/quote]
But if the council has not put up any signage whatsoever to say that for use only by council estate residents

Then… the answer is obviously going to be, that’s fine.

Or do they expect people to ring up and ask to get confirmation that it’s NOT fine every time?

MrsGHarrison87 · 09/02/2022 16:24

ClawedButler, probably lack of money for a start. Parents who sat on their front step smoking weed. And obviously this wasn't everyone. But a lot of people on that estate were seriously deprived, there was a huge drug problem there, one of the reasons I moved away from that estate. So you're not always going to get the type of parents who can provide the best for their kids and take them places.

3WildOnes · 09/02/2022 16:24

I live on a private estate, we have a big green with a playground. We pay a service charge for the up keep of the park. Loads of locals who don’t live on the estate use the park, I don’t think anyone minds as long as they don’t leave litter. Because it’s private land we can’t have a public litter bin annoyingly.

HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 16:25

Toanewstart23

Not sure what page it’s on but it’s there somewhere

southlondoner02 · 09/02/2022 16:26

I live on a council estate with a playground that gets used by people who don't live there. Everyone is welcome BUT there are definitely people who use the playground but aren't respectful eg leaving rubbish on the floor, damaging equipment. There is also a lot of fly tipping by people who don't live there (have seen them, definitely not residents). There are also amenities on the estate that mean people who don't live here drive their cars in to where the kids play. Some of the kids don't bother playing in the playground anymore after school because it's too busy and there's not much space for them to hangout.

OP, you don't sound like someone who would be disrespectful so definitely crack on, but just want to highlight there can be issues from arseholes.

Toanewstart23 · 09/02/2022 16:27

As if they would

It would be seen as segregation

I’ve gone through and can find no excerpt. Hi n any event excerpts are always… Hmm

HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 16:28

Toanewstart23

You haven’t looked properly then.

shoofly · 09/02/2022 16:29

I'm a Councillor in Northern Ireland. Playgrounds in our council area are maintained by the council and for use by everyone who wants to use them. If a new private development is being planned a developer will often be asked to contribute to something (ie a park) to benefit the local community, particularly if the building results in a loss of open space.
My kids are a bit past the playpark stage but when they were small we'd have worked our way round them all.

gunnersgold · 09/02/2022 16:29

There is a woman who lives near my mum who is batshit and thinks the playground is only for her estate ( private of that makes any difference) .. she has a go at anyone else who goes there ! Loony . It's owned by the council ffs!

Legoisthebest · 09/02/2022 16:30

Very few 'council estates' are actually council estates anymore. Thanks to right to buy a vast majority of the properties will be privately owned. Ironically many of those are rented out to people who need Universal Credit plus their wages to afford to rent them.
How would you decide which residents are 'council enough' for their children to play in the play area?

  • Family in a council property, non workers, living on benefits
  • Family in council property with full time jobs no benefits
  • Family in private rented former council property who are low paid so have UC as top up to afford rent
  • Family in private rented former council property who receive no benefits
  • Family in a former council house they own having bought it using right to buy
  • Family in former council house that they bought from the person who originally bought it under right to buy
  • Family who are subletters in a technically illegal situation but they pay all the bills and keep the place nice
  • Family who are living in a former council house that's owned by a relative and they don't pay rent because their relative doesn't need it
  • Family in council house who won the lottery/inherited money but decided to stay in the council house because they like it there
Etc etc etc etc and so on. Cos that's your average 'council estate' !
optimistic40 · 09/02/2022 16:30

Some parks look a bit as though they are intended for residents - the one nearest to my house is set in the middle of three blocks of flats (which are set out in a U-shape). I have taken the children there before as it's so close, but felt a bit strange. There were no signs to indicate that we shouldn't use it.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/02/2022 16:31

@Legoisthebest

Very few 'council estates' are actually council estates anymore. Thanks to right to buy a vast majority of the properties will be privately owned. Ironically many of those are rented out to people who need Universal Credit plus their wages to afford to rent them. How would you decide which residents are 'council enough' for their children to play in the play area?
  • Family in a council property, non workers, living on benefits
  • Family in council property with full time jobs no benefits
  • Family in private rented former council property who are low paid so have UC as top up to afford rent
  • Family in private rented former council property who receive no benefits
  • Family in a former council house they own having bought it using right to buy
  • Family in former council house that they bought from the person who originally bought it under right to buy
  • Family who are subletters in a technically illegal situation but they pay all the bills and keep the place nice
  • Family who are living in a former council house that's owned by a relative and they don't pay rent because their relative doesn't need it
  • Family in council house who won the lottery/inherited money but decided to stay in the council house because they like it there
Etc etc etc etc and so on. Cos that's your average 'council estate' !
Best response 🤣
Nidan2Sandan · 09/02/2022 16:32

@HadaVerde

Visiting friends who live there? Yes fine.

Using it cos it’s closer than another for public use playground? No of course it’s not ok.

I’m amazed people think this is ok.

I'm amazed that you even took the time to write such a ridiculous response 🤣
Toanewstart23 · 09/02/2022 16:33

The excerpt is from Islington council doc

Very explicitly their playgrounds are open to all if you google

In fact… they even promote how open some of them are to all!

www.islington.gov.uk/~/media/sharepoint-lists/public-records/childrenandfamiliesservices/information/leaflets/20202021/20210112islingtonadventureplaygroundsleafletaccessibleupdate2021.pdf

gunnersgold · 09/02/2022 16:34

I call a playground a park and vice Versa . Communal gardens are something completely different .
Playgrounds are owned by the council regardless of who ' owns' the estate .
@HadaVerde do you even have children ? Visiting different playgrounds is part of having them ! Free fun!!

BasiliskStare · 09/02/2022 16:34

@Toanewstart23 - very fair point re signage. Utterly right.

My point was if OP was worried - she could check.

I have no skin in this game as we ( when DCs were younger had a very big public park near to us ( & no garden to speak of) so the question did not arise.

Toanewstart23 · 09/02/2022 16:34

@HadaVerde

You are thinking back to when you grew up in a council estate

Clearly times have changed and it is now about absolutely NOT segregating and accessible to ALL

Loveisthere · 09/02/2022 16:34

HADA
Why