Page 7 | Can I use the playground of a council estate if we don't live there?

Mummy1608 · 2022-02-09T14:04:21+00:00

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?

Simonesignoret · 09/02/2022 15:06

Children on council estates will no doubt be stuck in front of their x boxes or bunking off school in town so the chances of your kids bumping into them is unlikely so go ahead....

HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 15:06

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.

HeyUpits2022 · 09/02/2022 15:06

@HadaVerde

I know I’m a lone voice here but communal areas including playgrounds within social housing estates are for residents use and the general public ie non residents can be excluded.

They really aren’t for general public use.

The large playground/park beside my house is on a Non-council estate (Weavers). It has the same equipment as the playground/park which is less than five minutes walk, and happens to be on a council estate (Parkstone)

Flipping your argument, is it okay for the children who live on Parkstone to play at the Weavers Park? If so, why? They've got their own park, they don't need to play at Weavers Park do they?

It feels massively like a case of "Off you go children, you can't play with the children from the posh estate!"

It's a park, with swings, a slide, a few benches. It's a nice place to be, to play so what precisely is the issue?

Pretty much everyone pays council tax, and part of that is a precept which is paid to the parish council who are responsible for maintaining parks - so a facility for everyone regardless of where you live

Thefaceofboe · 09/02/2022 15:07

*I know I’m a lone voice here but communal areas including playgrounds within social housing estates are for residents use and the general public ie non residents can be excluded.

They really aren’t for general public use*

This just isn’t true. My partner works for the council and I’ve just asked him, they are open to the public, re-guardless of where you live, it’s just every council estate has to have a playground/park (whatever you wanna argue they’re called) in the area for the children to access.

hellcatspangle · 09/02/2022 15:08

@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? It's literally a council run and funded playground, same as any other in town. It just happens to be in the vicinity of a particular estate. Open to anyone! Same as all other council run services.

MrsWinters · 09/02/2022 15:09

If it’s a council estate it’s fine, if it’s a private development with play equipment paid for by the residents service charge then it’s not ok to use

TheYearOfSmallThings · 09/02/2022 15:10

They are distinguished from open spaces, parks or other public land open to members of the public by clearly defined boundaries

For example a sign. Does the playground on your estate have one stating it is for residents' use only?

TwuntyFriend · 09/02/2022 15:10

Ok before you shoot me, I kind of get where HadaVerde is coming from (not that I agree entirely)

Where I live it's a New Build 'estate' - part private and part social housing. There is a 'park/playground' in the middle with the houses and flats surrounding it.

This particular park isn't owned by the council, in fact it's owned by the developers who manage the estate and all residents pay a monthly maintenance fee. This is for everything, but includes the park.

I guess technically speaking the parks use is for the residents who pay towards it's upkeep. However, there are no signs that state this and none of the residents give a flying monkey who uses it (apart from the weed smoking teenagers who like to vandalise and urinate on it )

raspberrymuffin · 09/02/2022 15:11

I think @HadaVerde is getting confused between play equipment in the private grounds of a block of flats (which happens to be owned by the council) and a playground/park in a large housing development (which happens to have been built by the council) with public streets, shops etc. I think in practice most people can tell the difference between the two. No council in their right mind is going to build a playground in an open plan area accessible to the public and say it's for residents only, not least because it's unenforceable without a full time parkie on the gate.

sluj · 09/02/2022 15:12

@HadaVerde

I know I’m a lone voice here but communal areas including playgrounds within social housing estates are for residents use and the general public ie non residents can be excluded.

They really aren’t for general public use.

I'm with you. Council estates are not "public land" and the tenants who live there will be paying for the repairs, inspections and insurance for that playground from their service charges. Nothing to do with council tax or council estates being public property.

BarbaraofSeville · 09/02/2022 15:12

@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.

One wonders if you might be confusing 'council estate' with 'gated community'?

Of course the OP can use the public playground that just happens to be in the council estate. Why wouldn't she?

I live on a council estate and there's a 'neighbourhood green' at the side of my house. There's picnic benches but no play equipment, although the children do like to use the trees at the edge to climb and make dens under. I must go out and check that they all live here and not in the private houses at the top of the road.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/02/2022 15:13

@HadaVerde I have never seen someone so spectacularly wrong on Mumsnet before still trying to prove they're correct. Well done 👍

Nomoreusernames1244 · 09/02/2022 15:13

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

To start a kids play park isn’t a communal green space. Second, as you have quoted, any such areas have clearly defined boundaries. If this particular park did have such clear boundaries, the o/p wouldn’t need to be asking here, would she? There’d be a fence and a notice stating residents only.

longwayoff · 09/02/2022 15:13

Interesting Hada Verde so you do your own patrols? Have ID checks for the swings? I've never heard anything so ridiculous. Publicly funded facilities are for public use. If it were for residents only there would be notices saying so. Children need space to play. All children, not just your special ones.

Ozanj · 09/02/2022 15:13

Depends on the area and signage. Some of our local council estates with tennis courts / basketball pitches etc do not permit outsiders from playing.

Wheelz46 · 09/02/2022 15:14

Surely if it was for residents only then there would be a sign up stating 'residents only'

HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 15:14

I can tell you categorically, because it's part of my job, that they absolutely are for general public usage

Many council properties have now been sold off under the Right To Buy scheme. Does you mean those people now can not use the park as they are not part of 'the council estate'?

Seeing as it’s your job surely you know that as leaseholders they have the same rights of access to communal facilities as tenants?

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 09/02/2022 15:15

I just went o my local council website. It lists all the playparks in the council area, including ones in housing estates, as public amenities. (And indeed, a description of whats there). A few are labelled as being managed by a housing developer, but still public.

I presume the school, post office etc are open to the public? Not a rule you have to live there?

Ozanj · 09/02/2022 15:15

@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.

Something similar applies where I live too & we have had instances where playgrounds in council estates have had lockable gates put on / security guards because of repeat offenders. It’s part of the drive to reduce gang / postcode violence and make playgrounds safer.

BasiliskStare · 09/02/2022 15:16

I think a short telephone call to your council with the address of the playground & the council property associated with it and your address will give you the answer.

FantasticFebruary · 09/02/2022 15:16

@HadaVerde

I know I’m a lone voice here but communal areas including playgrounds within social housing estates are for residents use and the general public ie non residents can be excluded.

They really aren’t for general public use.

You can keep repeating this as much as you like, it doesn't make it correct!

@HadaVerde

sasparilla1 · 09/02/2022 15:16

@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?

People on council estates have their own bins......

I would guess that there are actually very few council estates as lots of the houses have been sold off. I guess in your eyes I live on a council estate, but in reality I don't know a single person that is a council or housing association tenant.

TwuntyFriend · 09/02/2022 15:16

@Wheelz46

Surely if it was for residents only then there would be a sign up stating 'residents only'

Not necessarily. Ours doesn't, and technically speaking it's for residents only as they pay towards its upkeep.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 09/02/2022 15:17

If there was a gate around it that meant you had to really detour to get in unless coming from the houses/ flats on the estate I might think it was private for them. If not I reckon it’s for everyone

HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 15:17

AllThingsServeTheBeam

Funny thing is everyone else is providing their opinions.

My opinion is no one will question who’s using what, but that these playgrounds are not for general use. I have provided evidence.

Just cos you all agree doesn’t actually make me wrong.