Council's £70,000 playground is 'a pile of concrete blocks'

Childen who were expecting a new £70,000 playground complete with swings and slides have been left "devastated" after the council gave them a pile of concrete blocks instead. The "minimalist" design at Diamond Hall Pocket Park includes a variety of rectangular grey concrete blocks, described by Sunderland Council as "play features".

Parents had been expecting a traditional playground after they had been sent a leaflet on the plans which showed images of a climbing frame and swings. Instead they have been left with the task of telling their children how best to play on the new blocks.



Saacha Thompson, 34, said she had a hard time explaining to her three-year-old daughter Imogen that the park was finished. Adele Hopper, 24, said her three-year-old Connor was devastated when she told him the play park was finished. “He was really upset at first. I was surprised to find out the park was finished. It didn't look finished. I thought they would put stuff on top of the concrete blocks”, she said.

However, the council said the concept for the playground was agreed after consultation with the community. Julie Gray, Head of Community Services, said: “The design of the park was the result of extensive public consultation, with the local community and councillors asked to give their views at a number of events on the layout of the park and what kind of equipment they would like to see installed.”