Fencing pulled down after delays to opening of children’s playground

A new playground installed at Newtown Park last month is still closed to the public. And earlier this week part of the fencing that blocks it off was pulled down.

Members of the local community group Newtown Network are eager to organise a fun-day for local children in the upcoming May half-term but are still waiting for the city council to come back to them with an official opening date.

Residents who campaigned and helped to pay for the park’s first makeover in 18 years have expressed their disappointment over the delays and lack of communication from Bristol City Council. The park was funded in part from a Community Infrastructure Levy grant awarded to local community groups in 2019.

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The initial grant did not cover all their costs and a further successful bid for CIL money was awarded in 2021, in addition to money given by Old Market Forum to fund the playground.

Resident and Newtown Network member Debbie Benjamin said: “This issue would never happen in Clifton but why is the local community of Newtown waiting for an accident to happen? It was the local community of Newtown who actually paid for this play area to be done with the help of UWE.

“We still don’t know how much they spent on this project because we are not important enough to answer emails to or anything else. We are frustrated and hurt with the situation.”

Bristol City Council has been approached for a comment.