Letter: What About A New Playground for Stoughton Rec?

Published on: 14 May, 2019
Updated on: 14 May, 2019

The unveilling of the new all-weather sports pitch at Kings College, Park Barn.

From Brian Holt

In response to: Focus On Youth In Park Barn And Westborough As New All-weather Pitch Is Unveiled At Kings College

We were told three years ago that Stoughton Rec was third in line for a new playground, still nothing has been done, yet everyone else gets new playgrounds.

For a change, is there any chance that one day Stoughton Rec will be updated?

Guildford Dragon NEWS kindly published pictures (see: Stoughton Rec – Councillors Agree To Take Up Residents’ Concerns) of the state of the old playground and equipment in Stoughton Rec some time ago.

Every time it’s Park Barn who gets everything why? I would like to point out that Stoughton Rec is in Westborough Ward and ask why are children here in Stoughton are getting nothing?

Can the Parks department or GBC please explain to residents in Stoughton why this is happening? It says in the article that Guildford Borough Council continues to focus on young people in Park Barn and Westborough and plan to update play areas in Park Barn and Westborough.

About 18 years ago there was a public meeting to discuss what to do with the ninety-six thousand allocated to improve the Rec, apart from a few new seats and some equipment for adults nothing else was ever done.

So why was Stoughton Rec never updated and where did the money go?

Responses to Letter: What About A New Playground for Stoughton Rec?

Jane Hepburn Reply

May 15, 2019 at 7:19 pm

Stoughton Rec is amazing and a perfect mix of adult exercise equipment, kids equipment big and small, football field immaculately kept, seating areas and lovely open grassy areas… what else could you possibly need? All the kids we bring along love it and so do we.
F Barker Reply

May 16, 2019 at 8:33 am

An extension on the car park would be nice, as a Shepherds Hill resident, I know first hand how inconsiderately the visiting footballers park. On pavements, across driveways and over pedestrian crossings. We are prisoners in our own homes some weekends.
Raineee Wornham Reply

May 17, 2019 at 10:48 am

In reply to Jane Hepburn’s comment.

I am fortunate enough to live at the back of Stoughton Recreation Ground. I fully agree with Jane, it is an amazing space, that was never in question. For years we have been trying to get new play equipment, whilst watching the existing equipment deteriorate. It was only after many complaints that the council removed a picnic table from the small children’s play area that was covered in bird droppings!

Stoughton Recreation Ground is a highly popular area, used by thousands all year round. What more do we need? We need a fair chance of getting new play equipment for the children, that is all we have been asking for, for so many years, but sadly our plea falls on deaf ears. Is it really too much to ask for?

Sadly, no more layers of paint are going to revive our play equipment. We have to question why the council donated £120,000 to one area in Westborough when surely it could have been divided?