Labour MP pushes for playground protection in planning reform
The MP for Bournemouth East says boarded up playgrounds are hindering our children’s social skills and mental health
A Bournemouth MP is pushing to change planning laws to stop the loss of playgrounds to new developments.
Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East, has tabled an amendment to the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill that would mandate local planning authorities to prevent the net loss of play areas and invest properly in their upkeep.
“Playgrounds are where childhoods are made,” Hayes said. “When we let playgrounds rot, we starve children of those formative experiences. It’s no wonder they’re increasingly glued to smartphones and social media.”
Over the past decade, dozens of playgrounds across England have been closed or left derelict, with councils citing budget constraints and a lack of statutory protection.
In January, Hayes led a parliamentary debate calling for improved public parks, using his own Bournemouth constituency as a case study.
There, parents in Boscombe reported local playgrounds deteriorating so badly their children no longer wanted to use them.
Hayes told us the impact extends far beyond swings and slides: “It sends a signal to communities that the government and councils don’t respect them.
The MP’s amendment would ensure that whenever a playground is removed, a new one must be provided nearby - ensuring what he calls a “no-net-loss” policy for children’s play.
Hayes added: “In a cost-of-living crisis, having free play equipment and play spaces is absolutely critical. We need to make sure that children can play, that they can enjoy themselves and they can form friendships.
“At the moment the state of play in Bournemouth is inadequate. Places where children should be able to let off steam, invent their own world, play safely, they're not able to able to.”
Meanwhile, BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) Council is scrambling to turn the tide.
In response to growing concerns, it has launched its biggest investment in play in over a decade - a multi-million-pound overhaul of all 171 play sites in the area.
Council officers have assessed all 1,175 pieces of equipment across the district. The plan includes urgent repairs, upgrades, and total rebuilds where needed.
“For too long, equipment has been left to decline,” said Councillor Andy Hadley. “We’re determined to change that. Play is not just about fun, it’s fundamental for physical health, mental wellbeing, and community cohesion.”
Hadley stressed that access to quality play is especially vital for families without gardens or private space: “This is about fairness, inclusion, and giving all children the chance to thrive.”