Delays hit £85,000 lifeline for Scotts Hills Lane play park in Christchurch

DELAYS have hit an £85,000 lifeline to reopen a Christchurch play park which has been shut for more than two years.

The town council has earmarked the cash to refurbish the site in Scotts Hills Lane and make it safe for use again by local youngsters, following a petition signed by hundreds of residents.

But before the money can be spent, ownership of the play park has to be officially handed over by BCP Council along with nine other similar sites which had been under the control of Christchurch Borough Council before the local authority merger in 2019.

Cllr Simon McCormack, who represents the Burton and Grange ward, told the A&T it could be months before the work could start.

He said: “We are still waiting for BCP Council to hand the park over. They are dragging their heels as it has been over two years now since they agreed to.

“The park is one on a long list of parks that nearly two years ago BCP Council agreed to hand back to us. But so far nothing has happened and there has been no explanation as to why not.”

The other sites BCP Council has not transferred to Christchurch Town Council include those at Arena Barrack Road recreation ground, Enfield road, Jumpers Common, Knapp Mill, Mudeford Quay, River Way and Rutland Road.

The Waterman’s skate park has also not been handed over, along with Arena skate park.

A spokesperson for BCP Council said: “Certain playground assets weren’t transferred under the original government order as we were continuing to refurbish them under a contract that ran beyond March 2019.

“As a result, a different legal process is required to transfer these and this process is ongoing. We hope to finalise the transfer of these assets very soon.

“We have always planned to handover these assets – and the financial liability for them – to Christchurch Town Council with the assets in a good condition, so that the people of Christchurch can continue to use them for years to come.”

Furious residents had got up a petition to save Scotts Hills Lane play park, which reached over 400 signatures.

BCP Council agreed to hand back the park, in Purewell, which is leased to the town council by Meyrick Estates.

Cllr McCormack said: “Setting aside this money is a step in the right direction – but we have a long way to go yet.”