A support worker from Bromley working with disabled children has said Bromley needs more inclusive play equipment to further improve accessibility in the borough.
Bromley Council oversees and manages 69 playgrounds across the borough, which according to data offer 73 pieces of accessible equipment.
But for some parents in Bromley, they feel that more could be done to improve accessibility across the borough.
According to Census data, 14.3 percent of Bromley’s population are disabled.
In an information request sent to Bromley Council, the News Shopper asked for a list of the accessible play equipment provided at each of Bromley’s council-run playgrounds.
According to data from Bromley Council, along with an independent audit conducted of all Bromley’s accessible playgrounds:
- 39 playgrounds have accessible equipment.
- All playgrounds have step-free access.
- Seven have an accessible toilet nearby.
- Seven have disabled parking nearby.
Further to this, Bromley Council has confirmed that out of 38 of its playgrounds:
- 24 playgrounds have inclusive modular play equipment
- 23 playgrounds have flush roundabouts that wheelchairs or buggies can go on
- 15 playgrounds include swings that have a specifically designed seat with full back support and most have a rollercoaster type of safety harness, while 5 of them have swing seats that can accommodate an adjustable harness
- Eight playgrounds have nest swings that enable a carer to accompany a child
- Three playgrounds have sand play areas with access ramps for wheelchairs as well as play features for all abilities
‘Accessible playgrounds are imperative for development and wellbeing of disabled children’
Gemma Graham, a support worker in Bromley who works with disabled children and their families, told the News Shopper that parents of disabled children felt that they needed “more secure playgrounds” that facilitated socialisation, for children of all abilities in the borough.
Gemma, who works with a lot of autistic children and their families, along with children with varying mobility needs, said that playgrounds in Bromley needed more play equipment to cater to older children with sensory disabilities, with one of the biggest needs being swings.
Gemma said: “Looking from the perspective of these children and the families I work with; Bromley doesn’t have a lot of basket swings.
“Because they can't sit unaided on a normal swing, if you like, what I would call an adult swing and they’re often too big to sit in a large swing.
“So there's a real need for swings that they can use, children with sensory disabilities love the rocking, they love the feeling of the whole sensory experience of a swing, but parents are telling me that they're finding that very difficult.
“But alongside that, swings also need to be barriered off, for children with sensory or sight problems who might walk in front of one and have a terrible accident.”
According to information provided by Bromley Council, eight of Bromley’s playgrounds have nest swings accessible for disabled children and their carers, including Petts Wood Recreation Ground.
The security of playgrounds was also another issue that parents in the borough have raised, describing them as a “safety concern.”
According to Gemma, many of the gates were found to be easy to open by children, posing them as a risk to children with sensory disabilities that could leave the playground.
Gemma added: “Another issue that comes up is the type of gates.
“A lot of them are just slide fit gates, which are very easy to open, which can be dangerous for autistic children who don’t understand danger and are able to open the gates easily and get out.”
It’s also physical barriers that are an issue for parents with disabled children, according to Gemma.
Gemma explained that parents of children who are wheelchair users also struggle finding accessible roundabouts in the borough.
According to Bromley Council, 23 playgrounds in the borough have flush roundabouts that are designed to be used by wheelchair users and those with buggies.
But for some parents Gemma spoke to, there still isn’t enough in the borough, with more needed to facilitate play for children with mobility needs.
Gemma said: ‘With roundabouts, the parents say that not a lot have accessible roundabouts for wheelchair users.
“But it’s also things like sensory walls where children can put their ears to things and hear different sounds and feel the vibrations, and things that children can spin and play with, that aren’t just physical equipment that they find it difficult to move around.”
Bromley Council confirmed that four of its playgrounds featured sensory walls and activity panels, including Kings Meadow, Queensmead Recreation Ground, Penge Recreation Ground and Chislehurst Recreation Ground.
Gemma also added that parents felt that Bromley needed to offer sheltered areas for families with disabled children, with some of her students having issues with temperature regulation, making it difficult to enjoy playgrounds in hot weather.
Gemma: “There are also children with disabilities who get quite hot or cannot regulate their temperature, so having shaded areas in parks and playgrounds that families can access during hot weather would also be something that would benefit a lot of children.”
For Gemma, having access to inclusive play areas locally is key to the wellbeing of both disabled children and their families.
Gemma described playgrounds as a place to “build connections” and “promote development”, and added that all children should have the options to access play in Bromley borough.
Gemma said: “Having access to outdoor play is imperative for children’s development.
“It also helps them to build connections and have the same experiences as their peers, and for some children not be able to experience that isn’t fair.
“But it’s also for the parents’ wellbeing too, some parents don't have a social group and having access to a park to talk to other parents is so important.
“Just to know that your child is safe for that little bit of time in that area, if you want to go and play with your child, that's where friendships are made, you bump into other parents, get talking to them.
“A playground isn’t just for play, it’s also where connections are made.”
As part of UK disability charity Scope’s Let’s Play Fair campaign launched this year, and created in a bid to highlight the “need for more accessible equipment” in playgrounds across the UK, campaigners were asked to survey local playgrounds and provide feedback on their accessibility.
In 2023, Scope launched The Play Investigation, where 1,083 Scope campaigners visited 1,004 playgrounds across the UK, including 126 playgrounds in London, to conduct surveys on how accessible they were.
Parents were asked a series of questions ranging from wheelchair access to playground security and access to nearby accessible toilets.
27 playgrounds across south east London were featured on Scope’s interactive map after being surveyed by campaigners, with six featured in Bromley.
According to parents who surveyed the playgrounds in Bromley, five were given an amber rating, meaning they are likely to be reasonably accessible to most disabled children, but there might not be much for them to enjoy.
Another was given a red rating, meaning it is unlikely to be accessible to most disabled children, and doesn't have much inclusive play equipment.
Among the playgrounds rated amber in the borough were Beck Rec Children's Playground, Kelsey Park and Hoblingwell Park.
James Taylor, Director of Strategy at Disability Equality Charity Scope, said: “Every child should have an equal right to play.
“Yet many disabled children can’t enjoy their local playground because it isn’t designed for them, leaving them and their families divided and excluded. It isn’t right that disabled children are shut out.
"Inclusive playgrounds should be available across the UK, where all children, disabled and non-disabled, can be themselves and form memories that last a lifetime.”
‘Playgrounds need to be accessible for disabled parents too’
Bromley-based mum Emma Bailey feels that more playgrounds in Bromley need to be made accessible for parents living with disabilities.
Emma has a visual impairment due to Achromatopsia and uses her guide dog Tigger to be able to get around.
Her son, River, aged two, is autistic and requires sensory activities when playing.
Emma said: “Playgrounds should be more accessible for all disabilities, for myself and River.
“Parks that are gated are essential, especially when you have a little explorer and a visual impairment.
“Some park equipment could be more colourful and have a range of different equipment for all, flooring being made to be on one level would be more essential.”
Bromley Council told the News Shopper that it already offered colourful and bright playgrounds within a number of its parks, and run regular community repaint days at Kelsey Park, Biggin Hill Recreation Ground and Goddington Park.
Emma added that she struggles with parks that don’t have enclosed play areas due to River’s autism and Emma’s visual impairment.
Emma said: “We like Churchill Gardens in Bromley, but unfortunately the playground's not enclosed and River has wandered off to the lake a few times, so you have to be totally alert there, and if it's a very sunny day I struggle with my vision, so we try to go to more enclosed parks in the nicer weather.
“I feel parks need more shaded areas, more colourful brighter play equipment so I can distinguish where said equipment is, and more sensory equipment like busy boards, puzzles and even a trampoline are some of the things River loves.”
Another issue that Emma faces is parks not advertising that guide dogs, unlike pet dogs, are allowed to enter them.
Under The Equality Act (2010), guide dogs and other assistance dogs are legally allowed to enter public places where other dogs are not.
However, Emma said that often a lot of local parks don’t have signs outside their playgrounds that advertise this, and even described an occasion where she was challenged by another parent on entering with her guide dog.
Emma said: “Most parks I go to always say in their play area that there are ‘no dogs allowed’, but I feel they should be adding that guide dogs and service dogs are welcome.
“I’ve only ever had one person say my dog shouldn't be in there, but it still makes you on edge in case you're confronted with uneducated individuals.”
Future prospects for accessible play in Bromley
Bromley Council told the News Shopper that the council has been working in recent years to improve accessibility at its playgrounds through funding and consultation.
Last year, as part of the council’s Platinum Park Jubilee Fund, Bromley Council improved accessibility at six of its playgrounds across the borough.
These improvements included adding an accessible train ticket office for wheelchair users to Chislehurst Recreation Ground, the addition of a wheelchair-friendly trampoline to Penge Recreation Ground, and improvements to equipment and surfaces at King’s Meadow and St Paul’s Cray Recreation Ground.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Bromley Council said that it would continue to work on accessibility, prioritising key needs following an annual parks satisfaction survey, and encouraged parents of disabled children to contact their Friends of Parks groups to share their feedback for future works.
Councillor Will Rowlands, Executive Councillor for Environment, said: “Working with our much appreciated Friends of Parks groups, we have been able to install new play equipment such as Basket Swings, Sensory Walls and activity panels, accessible roundabouts and inclusive seating, all of which is in line with parents wishes, with the Council’s own £1million Platinum Jubilee fund and local fundraising coming together to help.
“Our own annual parks satisfaction survey has just closed and we are examining the hundreds of responses we received which helps us prioritise.
“I would encourage parents to get involved with their local Friends of Parks group and help make a difference.
“Given the size of our Borough, we are blessed with a wide array of greenspaces and play areas, with the associated costs of upkeep being considerable.
“We have already done ‘more’ but we are in a place where we cannot spend more, which makes fundraising partnerships ever more crucial.”
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