It was wonderful to travel out to Ifield West recently, to join local councillors for the opening by the Cabinet Member of the final two playgrounds being renewed in this phase of the council’s Unsupervised Play Area Improvement Programme. There were undoubtedly some very happy local children when they saw the new play equipment in place, just in time for the summer holidays.
It was a particularly satisfying visit, as I can well remember that these two play areas in Puffin Road and Bowness Close back in 2013 were on a list of over a dozen playgrounds across the Borough that the previous Conservative administration were proposing to rip out. This was only stopped by a strong reaction by Labour councillors and other campaigners against their removal. Not only were they saved, now they have brand new equipment, which it was a joy for us to see.
This phase saw new playgrounds in Bewbush, Broadfield, Ifield West, West Green, Wakehams Green and Southgate Park.
All of these recently revitalised playgrounds not only look amazing, the improvements help enhance the appearance of the whole surrounding neighbourhood.
While this is the end of this phase, it is far from the end of the programme.
The next phase will see significant investment over this financial year in play areas including Northgate, Tilgate and Ifield Green, just underlining this council leadership’s commitment to children and play as much as we are able to do so, and that no part of our Borough will be overlooked.
While there are genuine restrictions on what we can do, within those limitations we’re still working hard as a council to deliver something very special.
Recent years have seen local government finances tighten and meant we’ve had to concentrate on priorities like keeping people from becoming homeless. We are revenue poor, but we can channel other capital money and developers’ contributions towards our unsupervised play areas. And that is precisely what we are doing.
Since 2014, we have completed 44 Schemes across the borough at a cost of £1,928,170, approaching three fifths of all of the play areas in Crawley, with plans underway to address many of those remaining ones.
The next seven schemes coming forward in 2026 will have a contract value of nearly half a million pounds.
Let us know if you think your local play area might be a priority, we are listening.
Also, let your councillors know if you think there is anything in your local play area which needs attention. Recently, I arranged for the fence around the play area at Rathlin Road in Broadfield to be restored responding to residents’ concern, but don’t complain to Facebook, parents – tell us directly!
Cllr Michael Jones
Leader, Crawley Borough Council