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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
OddsNSodsBitsNBobs · 09/02/2022 22:09

Absolutely OK OP. I live on a private estate that has pu lic access- yes strange concept I know. Residents pay a management fee for the upkeep of public areas but they are for all to enjoy (despite some people's thinking). There is a sign up that basically says ' these areas are maintained by #estate name's# residents for all to enjoy, please respect and take any rubbish away with you or use the bins provided.

Go for it OP

Legoisthebest · 09/02/2022 22:10

It's hard to describe but as I said most estates I know of have one 'main' road that goes from one side to the other through the estate with the other roads coming off from it. So you can drive into an estate - and out the other side.

WestendVBroadway · 09/02/2022 22:10

@HadaVerde, The thing is nobody actually knows if the playground/park/playing fields/recreation ground whatever the fook you want to call it in question is specifically for residents only , as we can't be sure which facility the OP is referring to. So you may be right that some are indeed for residents only, however just because OP referred to it as a playground and not a park does not mean it is what you perceive to be a private playground as opposed to a public park.

Wheelz46 · 09/02/2022 22:11

@HadaVerde let's just pretend for a moment that you are correct. What happens when a non residential child plays in the residential playground?

HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 22:12

But you assume that all social housing and council estates are the same. They aren’t. Council estates come in all forms from flats that pay a service charge and have communal bins to council houses on normal ordinary streets

No I certainly don’t assume all social housing is the same. It seems many posters here are doing that by going off their own experience of what constitutes social housing.

My responses are based on the OPSs description.

I have experience of all sorts of social housing. Both from living there and passing observation.

The OP isn’t describing a set up like where you live.

Frazzled2207 · 09/02/2022 22:13

I’m amazed you think it’s not ok. I live right outside a large housing estate with a playground in the middle-
We use it and never offered to us that we shouldn’t!

HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 22:15

[quote Wheelz46]@HadaVerde let's just pretend for a moment that you are correct. What happens when a non residential child plays in the residential playground?[/quote]
As I said upthread…nothing. Highly unlikely anyone would challenge it.

Most people wouldn’t bat an eyelid at small children + parent having a play.

It’s more of an issue when it’s older teens without parental supervision.

Littlehouseonthefairy · 09/02/2022 22:18

Of course it is OK. We use playpark wherever we find them and do not consider the one right beside us to be only for the use of locals. You are local to that one anyway.

Christinatherabbit · 09/02/2022 22:28

@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.

What on earth does this even mean? I'm totally confused 😕 what possible reasons do you have to think this is NOT okay?
lisaandalan · 09/02/2022 22:46

I'm always doing it, look after various children always pop into some to and from places. X

ghostmouse · 09/02/2022 22:48

Have you really had experience and passing observations of council Estates both in London and the rest of the uk.

Maybe your estate is gated and the playground only for residence or so you believe but you do come on this thread as if you speak for all social housing and thier tenants. You don’t.

hedgehogger1 · 09/02/2022 22:49

Love the way one person is disagreeing with everyone else but it's not occurring to them they could be talking crap

DixonD · 09/02/2022 22:52

@HadaVerde

A playground within the grounds of a council estate is for residents use.

A playground in a park or on a recreational field or similar is obviously for general public use.

Would you use the bins on a council estate too?

Oh, am I supposed to leave litter on the pavement?
Mellowyellow222 · 09/02/2022 22:53

@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.

Why isn’t it okay? All public playgrounds are open to the public and public ally funded?

They aren’t for exclusive use of the houses close by.

Why do you think they are?

TomsPrisonConsultant · 09/02/2022 22:54

I think it's very unlikely you'd be challenged for using the playground but if it's provided by the council's housing department, i believe it will be funded by their Housing Revenue Account, not the council's General Fund, so it's not necessarily just like any other public amenity run by the council. But as a resident and a non resident I've used these types of playground and as I say I think it's very unlikely there'd be an issue.

TrashyPanda · 09/02/2022 23:06

It’s a play area for residents of a social housing estate, within the boundaries of the estate. That’s really not the same thing as a park

It’s a play area, owned and maintained by the council for the benefit of everyone.
If an area has restricted access, eg restricted to residents of a certain area, then that is clearly posted. There was no such signage.

Playareas are called parks by many people

Why is that so difficult to grasp
Right back at you.

Why are you insisting a public park is only for certain people when there is no evidence suggesting this?

TomsPrisonConsultant · 09/02/2022 23:13

A play ground provided by the council's housing department is not the same as a public park or playground and they are not funded the same way. A playground provided by the housing dept on housing land would be primarily intended for residents but I think very few would have strict rules about who can/can't use them.

TrashyPanda · 09/02/2022 23:14

Most estates you can’t really drive through as then they wouldn’t be classed as estates surely?

A housing estate (or sometimes housing complex or housing development) is a group of homes and other buildings built together as a single development. ... Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance.

It’s got nothing to do with through roads.

TrashyPanda · 09/02/2022 23:27

The OP isn’t describing a set up like where you live

How do you know?
All she said is that it is “a really big council estate”.

Nothing else.

She wondered if the playpark might be residents only. Just about everyone reassured her it would open to all. OP later confirmed there is no signage stating “residents only”. Therefore, public playground.

Not sure why you think you know anything more about this estate and playground than she has posted.

HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 23:31

Trashy panda. I’ve read all the OPs posts. They said more than just ‘a really big council estate’

knittingaddict · 09/02/2022 23:54

@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.

Don't be daft. It's not like a private estate. The op can definitely use it.
PurplePansy05 · 09/02/2022 23:58

HOW is this thread still going??? 🤣

TrashyPanda · 10/02/2022 00:14

The OP isn’t describing a set up like where you live

Which was Council estates come in all forms from flats that pay a service charge and have communal bins to council houses on normal ordinary streets

Ok, she said there is a mixture of housing and bins, an outdoor gym (with signage re use) area, shops, school, post office etc and gates you drive through. And a playground with no signage restricting usage, but a sign detailing local council

How do you know it the set up is so different?
You don’t.

As stated, council estates come in all shapes and sizes. What they have in common is that playgrounds are not restricted to the residents. Because the playgrounds are council owned and council maintained and are for the benefit of all children, not just those living in a certain area.

Do you honestly think children living one street outside the estate are not allowed to play there? If that is the only playground within easy walking distance? That they should walk home from school and not be allowed to use the playground they pass?

Of course not.

It’s nonsensical to suggest it.

Public playgrounds are for the public.

entropynow · 10/02/2022 00:18

@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.

What utter nonsense. A public playground is a public playground.
Changechangychange · 10/02/2022 00:33

@suzyscat

Usually residents only areas are gated with combination lock or residents are provided with a key.
This is the dividing line for me.

Locked gate/keypad? It’s for residents.

Open space, or small latched gate to stop kids running off, rather than keeping interlopers out? Fine for everyone.

To be fair we have both on the estates near us, and it can sometimes be hard to tell what is a high fence to keep basketballs in the court, and what is a high fence to stop non-residents from getting in, unless you physically go and rattle the gate.