Ardley park excludes Bicester residents from using playground

People from Bicester reacted with fury to a notice effectively banning them from using the nearby Ardley with Fewcott Recreation Ground.

The park was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but although it has now reopened, people in Bicester were shocked to see a sign on the gates saying the play area was closed to ‘non-residents’.

The park is just four miles from the town and has been a popular destination for families with children.

Sarah Karnik, from Bicester, said in the Bicester Chat Facebook group: “This is so utterly ridiculous and completely unenforceable. If we want to come and use Ardley park, then we will.”

Bicester resident Sami Burchell commented: “Maybe we shouldn’t allow ‘outsiders’ in Garth park then as if kids haven’t had enough to deal with recently, now being turned away from playing in a park.”

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The playground, which is managed by a committee of charity trustees of Ardley with Fewcott Village Hall & Recreation Ground, is doing a phased reopening and is therefore only open to people in Ardley for now.

Jo Jo commented saying Bicester residents should be more understanding of the situation.

She said: “I get what you’re all saying but is it really a big problem for everyone to just respect the people that live in the village who want to try to keep their families safe?”

But one frustration of local Bicester parents is that some of them hire the village hall on the site for children’s parties and functions and therefore feel it is unfair to now be excluded from making use of the playground.

Another resident, who has asked not to be named, said: “We Bicester people assist with funding too. We have hired the hall for loads of events and supported other events held there. That is all funding.”

The committee says the reason for exclusion is because of the large amount of people the site usually attracts.

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Karl Wright, chair of trustees, said: “As the situation eased, the trustees carried out a Covid-secure risk assessment, which highlighted the very large number of visitors the facility traditionally gets across the summer months from a wide area and decided, in the interests of safety, that a phased reopening would be more appropriate.

“We improved signage and added some additional Covid safety features, but restricted use to those in the immediate vicinity. We realise how disappointing this has been to some visitors and we look forward to welcoming them back as we move into September and can get back to something like normal.”

Ardley Parish Council says it supports the committee’s decision. Anne Davis, parish clerk, added: “They did a great job of keeping the playing fields open for people to walk and exercise and took the opportunity to close the village hall and do some renovation work. “The volunteers should be thanked for all their hard work.”

Playgrounds and outdoor gyms across England were given the green light to reopen from July 4.

Official government guidance says: “Owners and operators responsible for playgrounds and outdoor gyms will have discretion over when they consider it safe to open for activity permitted by legislation, and may decide to keep these areas closed should they feel they are not able to facilitate their safe usage.”