Islington Council steps-in to safeguard adventure playgrounds

Islington Council has confirmed that 4 adventure playgrounds at risk of closure will now be managed directly by the Council without any break in services.

These are Crumbles Castle (Bingfield Park in Cally), Lumpy Hill (Market Road), Martin Luther King (at Paradise Park) and Timbuktu (on Grenville Road, N19). The adventure playground staff teams’ jobs will all be protected in the transfer to the Council’s management. See Islington Council’s statement here.

The Council has also offered alternative nursery places to all the families that are affected by the closure of Paradise Park nursery. This week, the High Court rejected a judicial review application from some parents who used the nursery. Rejecting the legal claim, the judge declared it had “no merit” and the Council had acted in good faith. Unusually, the court awarded costs against the applicants. See news coverage of the court decision here.

Both the nursery and adventure playgrounds were previously run by Islington Play Association (IPA) whose trustees have decided to close down on 22nd July.

Cally ward Councillor (and Leader of the Council) Una O’Halloran says: “We’ve worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the four adventure playgrounds run by Islington Play Association will remain open throughout the summer and beyond, under our management, with no gap in provision.”

“It’s also been an anxious time for the families affected by IPA’s decision to close Paradise Park nursery. There is sufficient alternative childcare available and we are committed to making the transition to other affordable settings as smooth as possible.”

Most of the affected families have been made alternative nursery offers at Council children’s centres like Westbourne, Bemerton and Robert Blair. Over August, the Council is providing temporary nursery provision until some of the alternatives places become available at the beginning of September.

Cllr Paul Convery says: “We have always promised to protect the Borough’s adventure playgrounds. Over ten years ago we dedicated the playgrounds through a deed-of-trust so they remain in use for children and play in perpetuity. Adventure playgrounds like Crumbles and Lumpy are not simply great places for young people. They are also a reminder of the culture and history of this Borough. They grew out of slum clearance, family activism, volunteering and the eventual support from the GLC and Council. They are an essential part of life for working class children in this Borough. We will always protect them.”