We are asking the council to consider installing child-resistant/self-closing locks or latches on the three gates at the recreation ground to help prevent young children from being able to open the gates and leave the park unsupervised.

The recreation ground is used regularly by families, grandparents, childminders and other carers, many of whom are responsible for more than one child at a time. With three separate exits, it can be extremely difficult to keep every gate within sight at all times, particularly when supervising several young children. Some parents avoid the park due to this hazard. 

This is especially concerning because the gates are close to the perimeter of the car park. A young child could leave the recreation ground very quickly and be close to moving vehicles before an adult has time to reach them.

Improved gate security would benefit everyone in the community, but could be particularly important for children with SEND. Some children, including some autistic children and children with additional needs, may be more likely to suddenly run or “elope” and may have limited awareness of danger or road safety. For their parents and carers, having a secure boundary can make an enormous difference to whether a recreation area feels safe and accessible.

We are not asking for the recreation ground to be locked or made difficult to access. We are simply asking for the council to consider safer gate mechanisms that adults can easily operate but that young children cannot readily open themselves, ideally alongside self-closing gates.

This relatively small improvement could:

Help prevent young children leaving the recreation ground unexpectedly.
Reduce the risk of a child reaching the nearby car park.
Make supervising multiple children safer and more manageable.
Make the recreation ground more inclusive for families of children with SEND.
Give parents, grandparents and carers greater peace of mind.
Help prevent a potentially serious accident before one occurs.
We would be very grateful if the council could inspect the three gates, assess the current safety arrangements and consider installing suitable child-resistant, self-closing latches or locks.