The decision by Greenwich Council to close or downgrade four of the borough’s five staffed Adventure Play Centres has now been formally challenged by opposition councillors and called in for scrutiny.

Despite a pre-Christmas public consultation that showed strong opposition from local families and clear evidence that these centres are highly valued, Cabinet voted on 28 January 2026 to proceed with the proposals.

If implemented, this will mean:

• One centre closing entirely, replaced by unstaffed play space
• Three centres reconfigured as general community or youth hubs
• Only one remaining as a dedicated staffed adventure playground

The Council has described the changes as an “investment in play” and says access will be widened. However, local campaigners and London Play argue this represents a significant loss of specialist, supervised play provision, and that consultation concerns have not been properly addressed.

London Play has been involved from the start — issuing a public statement, encouraging families to respond, and writing to Cabinet members with detailed evidence explaining why staffed, playwork-led adventure playgrounds cannot be replaced by unstaffed equipment or generic youth hubs. They highlighted the importance of:

Prevention and early intervention
Trusted adult relationships
Children’s right to play
London’s unique adventure play heritage

This is not just about Greenwich. The outcome has wider implications for how London values and protects its adventure playgrounds.

📅 Scrutiny hearing (Call-In): Monday 2 March
📩 To submit evidence or request to attend, contact:
Nassir Ali
Email: committees@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
🕔 Deadline: Friday 27 February

Community voices matter — and scrutiny is now underway.

If you have lived experience or professional expertise, now is the time to speak up. ✊🌳