Parents hit out at 'snobbery' as play park locked at Riverbourne development off Elm Avenue in Chattenden, Hoo
05:00, 06 April 2023
updated: 13:12, 06 April 2023
An "exclusive" play park on a housing estate which put locks on its gate has been labelled "snobby and silly".
Bemused mum Sara Elsayed has hit out at the owners of the small park at the 69-home Riverbourne development off Elm Avenue in Chattenden, Hoo, for only allowing home owners on the estate to use the park.
The 35-year-old, of Quire Close, Wainscott, was at her parent's home in the village last week when she went to take one-year-old daughter Aminah.
She chose the nearby park as it is the closest one with baby swings.
But Sara was shocked and annoyed to find the small park, which also has a slide, had a numbered padlock on the gate and she couldn't get in.
The social worker has used the park multiple times in the past, most recently in December, and contacted property management company Rendall and Rittner about the sudden change.
A spokesman for the company said: “The play park belongs to the owners of the 69 houses around it, who pay for its upkeep and maintenance.
"The owners took the decision to padlock the gates of the park to ensure it is kept private and to stop any potential damage from being caused.”
The news left a bad taste in Sara's mouth, who accused them of being snobby and elitist.
"Some of the houses on that estate are around £500,000," she said.
"There is no sign which says it is private, only one which says it is for under 12s. It's the closest one with baby swings otherwise I'd have to walk 20 minutes with my child to the next closest.
"It's unfair. As residents we get these developments forced on us which don't bring any good to the community and then we can't even use their parks.
"They should feel ashamed of it really, it's the children which are being affected"
"It was quite annoying and surprising when I found out why it was locked. It's a bit like them and us. It's snobby.
"They should feel ashamed of it really, it's the children which are being affected."
Sara, who has wrote to Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tollhurst about the situation, says the park is quiet and rarely busy.
She added: "There's no vandalism there or any damage, so it's the kids who are the victims.
"On my way back from the park I spoke to a nearby neighbour who would take her grandchildren there, but now she cant."
