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

[Mummy1608]

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?

@HadaVerde

Still waiting for your evidence of this? Not just the made up rules in your mind

Definition
3.1 Communal green spaces owned by the council in our capacity as a social housing landlord form part of the estate or block they are associated with. They are distinguished from open spaces, parks or other public land open to members of the public by clearly defined boundaries

That’s from one inner London councils housing policy documents.

Again a public park is not the same as a communal playground within a social housing estate.

@HadaVerde But OP has stated there aren't any signs which define the playground as being for residents use only which negates the "clearly defined boundaries" bit you've quoted here.

The one set of rules that you've found doesn't apply to all council-owned playgrounds.

@Watercoloursky I lived in Warwickshire (I did actually say in my post :o)

Interesting that you use them the "international" way (as I've come to think of it!)

Hi hi I am back, thank you all again for your helpful responses! Mumsnet is fab, it's so nice that ppl looked up council websites etc 🙏 thank you

OK to update:

• we went to the playground, had a lovely time. Dd swung, slid, and played boo with me
• there weren't many mums and dads as we were there so late in the day, mostly older primary children playing before dinnertime. Lovely peaceful atmosphere though

-and...wait for it... there was a vandalised coin collection box! so @lamplighter414 I'm sorry I doubted you!!

I left my phone at home to charge so I couldn't take a picture but I will next week haha. Can't believe this has got to 13pages lol, it's so random which topics mumsnet ends up finding interesting! Thank you all again for reassuring me, we'd have stayed at home today otherwise!!

@lunar1 - where I live still has council estates - more than one estate - some have been privately bought but there is still a great deal of council owned property . I think there is a difference between an ex council house or flat privately owned and some of the taller tower blocks which to be fair tend to be less appealing to private buyers. But where I live there are council estates ( low blocks ) which can range between 20 to 40% privately owned. - so perhaps posters are thinking differently about what a council estate means - not always well built houses around a green.

But I live in an area where there are estates which are still largely owned by the council

Considering it is children's mental health week and several reports recently have highlighted issues relating to children's mental health over the past few years. It takes a certain type of person to say children shouldn't have access to local public resources, we should be encouraging children outdoors to playgrounds and that means any available to help stave off obesity.

Sometimes houses/flats have a private garden which can have play equipment. That's residents only

If the council maintains it then it's for anyone who want to play.

[quote Itsalmostanaccessory]@HadaVerde

Gated gardens, private gardens, without or without equipment which are attached to social housing flats/housing blocks are private. That's their communal garden.

Park and playgrounds built by the council in a housing estate or outside a housing estate are for use by all. They are included when the council accounts for recreation facilities in a town. Those playgrounds will mean another playground in the vicinity isnt built, because they have one. They are public.[/quote]
There is a gated garden attached to our block of flats. Neither we or our landlord has a key and I’ve never stepped foot in it in the six years we’ve lived here. See people in there from our balcony in summer though.

@HadaVerde

My god.

People seriously don’t know the difference between a public park and a play area in a social housing estate.

🙄

No idea why you still think you are right when people who work in social housing are telling you that you are wrong 🙄

Ps but definitely no sign saying residents only - the only signs were "Children's play area Xx Council" and something about antisocial behaviour will be prosecuted or something

I wouldn't use a communal green in a council or any estate- mostly because it's pretty obvious that they are designed for either residents hanging out washing or in place of private garden. They have these in the (mix of council and boat hoose) estate my parents live on. I wouldn't wander in and have a picnic.

A play park with play equipment is a different matter. They aren't private or screened off. I actually know of a new build estate that had a play park built in where the developer put up a sign saying for residents only, and the residents took it down because they thought it was unfair for the rest of the local children not to have use of the only play park in that locality.

Play parks are common good.

They are also known as parks. And depending on the number of play equipment, kn0wn as Big Park or Wee Park.

And big grassy areas are also Park.

Just for clarification:playground, park, playpark and play area are all interchangeable.

I think the point is @HadaVerde doesn't WANT anyone to use the playground near her home, despite local authorities clearly encouraging the opposite.

Hada if you could clarify which swings you want us to steer clear of, that's probably the best option.

Then the rest of us can crack on.

Sometimes mn is batshit crazy and this is a perfect example! Of course you can use a play park, go and enjoy it and ignore the madness on here.

3.1 Communal green spaces owned by the council in our capacity as a social housing landlord form part of the estate or block they are associated with. They are distinguished from open spaces, parks or other public land open to members of the public by clearly defined boundaries

That refers to green verges, bits at ends of roads etc that you see the council mowing. Not parks

@Tilltheend99

I have wondered similar, except about posh new build block of flats near us. There is a public right of way next to it as it is right next but the play area has just gone up. You hear stories on the news about people in mixed housing new builds who don’t want the people in ‘affordable’ bit using their facilities etc

That's a bit different. They build flats with amenities. Some have gyms and pools in the building, and residents pay a monthly fee for upkeep. In order to get planning permission, a certain number of flats need to be given as "affordable". Thise tenants do not pay the fees for the maintenance and use of those amenities.

So, that's a different argument. Those facilities arent public. They are private and are being paid for in hefty fees, by the residents.
If you're not paying for them then you shouldn't be using them.

Entirely different from public faculties, like council parks, which are funded by tax and for everyone to use.

I live on a social housing estate. Our park is open to everyone. Not just us. Everyone. It's got those exercise things as well and people who don't live here use those too.

@HadaVerde

Of course public playparks are available for all to use

Of course they are.

The issue is playgrounds for residents of social housing are not for public use.

People seem to not believe this fact but whatever.

But no council builds private play parks just for the residents of social housing!

There are communal gardens for residents of social housing flats or clusters of houses without gardens. These are gated and private. They are not play parks. They are not what OP wishes to access.

There are play parks, built by local councils which are located in or close to Council Estates, and these are public play parks and are open to all. This is what the OP wishes to access, and she is perfectly entitled to do so.

@HadaVerde you're still going?! You are wrong!!

A park is a public area of course you can use it. I take my children to the next village up because they have got a far better playgroup than we have.

How would they know you lived there or not?

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Until last year I lived on an Army camp. It had a decentish playground. Paid for by welfare. Technically a public play park. Except it was inaccessible to anyone but the 20 or so kids who lived on the camp.

On.......a camp. Very different from a council estate

Anyone who owns their home in my description above and shared communal areas Is a leaseholder not a freeholder

Not totally true.
In Scotland they own the property outright.

Yes, go and have fun x

I've just Googled the swing park/play park/ play equipment area that is located on the small council estate (now a mix of private own, private rented and council tenants) in our village and it is listed along the the village rec (recreation ground - football pitch, general grassed area and a swing/play park) as a public play ground. I never took my DC there to play not because it I thought we weren't allowed or because we might meet council estate children (because they are the same kids they are at school with and I used to live on two different council estates) but because it was pretty run down and at the other end of the village so I would have had to pass two play areas with much better equipment to get there. We are beyond play park trips now but I noticed last time I passed it that it has had a fantastic refurb so if I had a 'going to the swings with Mummy' aged child now I would definitely head that way.

If they own a property in a block with shared communal facilities they are leaseholders

That doesn’t make any difference in Scotland. You buy property = you own property.