Concerns over newly installed Mackie Park in Patcham

Mackie Park near Mackie Avenue in Patcham, Brighton, was one of 25 sites refurbished in March as part of Brighton and Hove City Council’s £3 million investment into 45 play areas around the city.

A Freedom of Information Request (FOI) revealed the park, which has nine pieces of equipment, cost £78,000 to complete.

But parents think the result is “uninspiring” for youngsters and “too bare” for what it cost.

They say a more extensive public consultation would have led to a better park.

The newly refurbished park installed by contractor Kompan. Inset left, equipment to left of picture. Inset right, a climbing structure to the right of the picture

The same FOI request by a parent revealed that while there were some consultations between August 2020 and March 2021, council officers were “restricted in conducting normal public consultation exercises due to government restrictions”.

Ruth Nilsson, a mother of three, said: “It should be the heart of the community but kids have stopped coming now because the park isn’t challenging enough. For older kids there is nothing. It leads to them causing trouble and mucking around with the bins instead. The older children would play on the bigger wooden equipment but now that’s not there so they’re in with the little ones.

Some of the concerned parents with their children at Mackie Park

“There is such a community here, this should be the heart of it.

“I think it could have been designed better.”

The FOI revealed surfacing works and groundworks cost £22,468.83. Parents are concerned after seeing parts of the surfacing already coming loose.

Parents have concerns over surfacing coming loose just months after being installed

One said: “As parents, we wouldn’t have chosen the park to be like this. The council should have consulted schools in the area.

“We would like it to be more colourful, we want it to be made safer in terms of the ground, we would like more to be put in and things to entertain older children."

Alistair McNair, Conservative councillor for Patcham, said the park had a "poor state of finish" and there was a "lack of fun for children and a lack of facilities for older children".

A council spokesman said: “The improvements in Mackie Park are part of our £3 million investment to refurbish playgrounds across the city, providing new equipment and spaces for children to play. 

Old equipment above the park which was removed

"It’s the largest playground refurbishment in the last ten years by any council in the country, with unprecedented levels of investment in play equipment.

“With regard to the items of play equipment we have removed and replaced at Mackie Park, our health and safety analysis clearly stated that they were coming to the end of their lifespan.

“Due to the pandemic and government restrictions, public consultation did have to change from the usual format but informal consultations at the site did take place. 

The slide from the old park

“With much equipment across the city at the end of its life, and many pieces of equipment already removed, it was important to progress our refurbishment programme during this time. 

“We  held two consultation events at the site and ward councillors shared the plans with local residents and on social media. The schedule of works was also presented to our environment, transport and sustainability committee.

“We have contacted the company that carried out the installation of the new facilities about issues raised by park users. The company is working on options to help address these.

“We understand that the development of an official Friends of Mackie Park group is under consideration. We would be delighted to work with such a group as we do with many other such groups across the city.”