Page 8 | 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?

Twolostsoulsswimminginafishbow · 09/02/2022 15:18

Absolutely fine. Let’s just hope you don’t live near HadaVerde, comparing a park to bins is batshit, although nothing is changing their mind I fear.
I grew up on council estates. I never remember anyone checking where I lived to use the parks and there were school friends from other areas who would meet up to play. I’ve lost count if the amounts of different parks I visited with DC.

sadpapercourtesan · 09/02/2022 15:18

Would you use the bins on a council estate too?

@HadaVerde are you talking about a public litter bin on the street? Of course I would use it, that's what it's for

You have some very odd ideas about what is and isn't permissible. Public spaces and amenities are for everyone. You may wish it weren't so, but it is.

looklikeanelephant · 09/02/2022 15:18

@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.

😅😅 why?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 09/02/2022 15:19

Depends what you mean by council estate too - lots of houses that happen to have a park in the middle, but basically that’s just an area of the town - fine.

A few blocks of flats with a play park in the middle or as I’ve said have to detour a lot from public street to get to it, probably not fine

BigFatLiar · 09/02/2022 15:19

@Mummy1608

Thank you guys so much for the reassurance! Seems like most ppl think it's ok, whew 😅 I'm going to head there once dd wakes up from this late nap!

To the pp who mentioned making friends with the parents on the estate, yes definitely this is part of my motive! I live on a short road with mostly older neighbours and all my mum-friends are a proper bus ride away... it would be fab to make a friend closer by for more spontaneous playdates. But also this particular playground has got so much cool equipment in it, my dd is going to love it.

Thanks to everyone for your reassurance xxx

Go along and meet the mums, let the kids play, they're probably the same ones she'll be going to school with.

FantasticFebruary · 09/02/2022 15:20

@HadaVerde

Are we really acting like we don’t know the difference between a park and a playground.

Are you quite ok?

The vast majority call playgrounds 'the park'.

If it's just a grassy park, they tend to be referred to by name like Hyde Park, or DownsGreen.

Why are you being so awkward?

elbea · 09/02/2022 15:20

The gym equipment one will say ‘residents only’ otherwise you get a load of personal trainers who have driven for miles hogging the equipment with their clients and not letting local people use it.

If you go to the park it legally has to have a sign on it detailing who owns it, I can almost guarantee it will be your local parish/town/county council. I manage thirty play areas and lots of open space for a parish council, some are in the middle of a council estate but are for anybody to use.

Gonnagetgoing · 09/02/2022 15:20

It's a public playground - of course you can use it. You could be staying with friends or relatives if a resident asks and makes a fuss.

BarbaraofSeville · 09/02/2022 15:20

@HadaVerde

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?

Hada I think in your world a 'council estate' might be different to the rest of us?

I'm sure I'm not alone in imagining this place as a load of houses on normal looking streets, built by the council, and some still owned by the council, while others are owner occupied having been bought by the current or previous occupiers, who own them on a freehold basis, not as leaseholders.

The streets and estates may also include grassed areas, parks, possibly also amenities like shops, medical centres etc. Outside individual gardens, all the streets and other areas are open to anyone, whether they live there or not.

Please put us out of our misery and tell us what you think a 'council estate' looks like, because it has to be something very different than the majority.

WutheringHeights66 · 09/02/2022 15:21

Of course it’s ok, imagine the outrage if people in naice areas said they didn’t want children from social housing using the park outside their homes.

To the PP who said it wasn’t ok 🙈

misspercy · 09/02/2022 15:21

I think as long as there is no signage indicating it's for residents only and/or as long as it's not gated off, it's probably fine.

If it's private, it should be obvious.

VickyEadieofThigh · 09/02/2022 15:22

@RedToothBrush

Donation box? That hasn't been vandalised?!

I know! Wouldn't matter what the area was like, it would last about 5 minutes.

alexdgr8 · 09/02/2022 15:22

most people on estates use communal bins, sometimes with a chute depending on the layout, though many of these have been closed due to misuse. so people have to take their rubbish down to the ground floor to access the communal bins outside.
i cannot see why people think estate facilities are for general use, rather than for the residents.
if others are allowed to use playgrounds, that is a discretion, not a right.

HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 15:23

People on council estates have their own bins

Apart from the ones with big blocks of flats and large communal bins.

Skybubble · 09/02/2022 15:23

@HadaVerde
😳

peachgreen · 09/02/2022 15:25

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

Depends what you mean by council estate too - lots of houses that happen to have a park in the middle, but basically that’s just an area of the town - fine.

A few blocks of flats with a play park in the middle or as I’ve said have to detour a lot from public street to get to it, probably not fine

Yes, I agree. Obviously there's nothing explicitly banning it, but if a play park was in the middle of several blocks of flats (like the one in Apple Tree House on CBeebies!), then my instinct would be that it should be primarily for the use of children on that estate/their friends and visitors.

Original poster

Mummy1608 · 09/02/2022 15:25

@elbea

The gym equipment one will say ‘residents only’ otherwise you get a load of personal trainers who have driven for miles hogging the equipment with their clients and not letting local people use it.

If you go to the park it legally has to have a sign on it detailing who owns it, I can almost guarantee it will be your local parish/town/county council. I manage thirty play areas and lots of open space for a parish council, some are in the middle of a council estate but are for anybody to use.

Yes this makes so much sense, thank you!!

I love mumsnet, everyone has been really helpful. To ppl who have said IABU, that's also been helpful and thank you for the various info and links.

OP posts:

Comefromaway · 09/02/2022 15:26

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

A children's playground or park is not a communal green space. Such a "green space" is in lieu of a garden. Tenants rent the use of it in the same way as they rent their allocated parking or back garden. Their boundaries are clearly defined.

The OP is NOT talking about a communal green space.

MrsRussell · 09/02/2022 15:27

I'm claiming Top Trumps, we went on holiday TO ANOTHER COUNTRY and my DS went on a public playground.
In France. Next to the river in Rouen. It had a little free library on the gate as well and imagine how shit that would be if a) not only dock workers were allowed to use the play area and b) you could only exchange books with the same hundred or so people.

BlackeyedSusan · 09/02/2022 15:27

@Comefromaway

There was a playground near my children's primary school. The only council houses there were retirement bungalows. I'm sure those residents are not going to be going on the monkey bars and down the slide.

Oh come on...my mum went on the zip wire age 84.

the exception that proves the rule

MrsRussell · 09/02/2022 15:27

It only dock workers, I mean.

HadaVerde · 09/02/2022 15:28

Hada I think in your world a 'council estate' might be different to the rest of us?

I'm sure I'm not alone in imagining this place as a load of houses on normal looking streets, built by the council, and some still owned by the council, while others are owner occupied having been bought by the current or previous occupiers, who own them on a freehold basis, not as leaseholders

Maybe the OP could clarify the type they mean.

Yeah some are just like small areas as you describe.

Many others particularly in cities and towns are totally enclosed, little low rise housing or private gardens. These are the type that have playgrounds within the grounds similar to what the OP is describing.

Anyone who owns their home in my description above and shared communal areas Is a leaseholder not a freeholder. As everyone in such housing pays service charges for the communal facilities that are part of their tenancy/lease.

Gonnagetgoing · 09/02/2022 15:28

When we were kids we used to go to an award winning pub approx a 5 minute drive (longer to walk) near our house. As this was the olden days when kids weren't allowed in pubs - just about allowed in the pub garden - luckily opposite the pub in a very quiet street with few cars - there was a giant concrete pyramid with a slide down the middle - so we used to play there - on the slide and pyramid - there was a council estate right next to it and presumably it was 'for the locals' but no-one was ever there! a couple of streets away there were non council and council houses and tucked between them was a tiny slide/swings area - again didn't see anyone using them either!

What staggers me - is a few streets away from where I grew up there's an estate of flats and council houses - and as far as I know there is nothing at all in the form of playground equipment there! However the local area is well served by lots of parks etc. This area is on one side a local London authority and the 'pyramid one' (see above) is on another - so presumably one council values playgrounds more than the other!

StellaGibs · 09/02/2022 15:30

I've lived on council estates for most of my life and I've never once even thought about if the people in the park live on the estate.

jojogoesbust · 09/02/2022 15:30

@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.

This is such crap. I grew up on a council estate with a playground on it, and a road of privately owned houses opposite. All kids from either side played on it. The only signs placed by the council were age advisory ones.

totally nuts - I assume you can't live in the UK with this opinion??