Questions asked over Strande Park play area safety and responsibility

The council has said part of its Strande Park investigation involves looking at what has happened to the park home residents’ recreation area.

Concerns over the Cookham home sites recreation area surfaced when part of the site – which was split in two and sold to different companies – was allocated for new homes in the Borough Local Plan.

Strande Park’s residents’ association has long contended that the council is in violation of its site agreement by allowing any building in Strande Park’s visitor car park and recreation space.

In light of the latest issues at Strande Park, such as the removal of hedges and fences, the council has been investigating various aspects of the site’s operation and licence.

The public has also been asking questions.

At a full council meeting at the end of last month, concerned resident Andrew Hill asked about the recreation area aspect at the Lightlands Lane site.

“There are children on this dense site now forced to play around cars, having been cut off from their recreational ground, despite the guarantee of this amenity in the site licence that RBWM itself issued,” he said.

Mr Hill said the lack of access to a recreation ground was in violation of the site licence, and asked when access would be restored.

“You can’t have a licence that grants access to a recreation ground if there isn’t one – because then the site licence has failed,” he said.

The site licence’s words are: “The areas ...described as ‘car park’ or ‘recreation area’ ... are to be used for the purpose shown and no other purpose.

“Space equivalent to about one-tenth of the total area shall be allocated for children's games and other recreational purposes.”

Mr Hill had also asked who the council takes to be the current active holder of the site licence, with responsibility for the safety of the children.

Two weeks ago, the council clarified that former owners Holly Lodge (Kingswood) Limited is still the holder of the site licence.

But an attempt has been in motion since August to designate a new ‘fit and proper person’ to manage the site under its changed ownership to Sines Park Holdings Ltd.

A council spokesperson said: “This matter relates to complex issues around land ownership, site licence requirements and planning, which the council is currently working through as part of our ongoing investigation.

“We take this situation and the concerns of residents very seriously.

“We’re well aware the site licence has a condition relating to recreation space provision.

“然而东部土地的移动房屋is no longer accessible to residents for this purpose. This forms part of our investigation.

“We take seriously any concerns about public safety, we're continuing to liaise with Strande Park residents and we’d encourage residents with safeguarding concerns, or any evidence to assist with the investigation, to contact the Residential Services Team.”

This team is at:residential.services@rbwm.gov.uk