FIVE more children’s play parks in Basingstoke and Deane will be refurbished as part of borough council plans to spend more than £400,000 to upgrade play facilities.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has already completed the upgrades at five parks as part of its Play Refurbishment Programme and is now reviewing responses to public consultations for upgrades at five more.

The council has a budget of £412,000 to spend on the programme this year, which will include upgrades to parks in Hatch Warren, Brighton Hill, and the town centre.

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It recently held a public consultation to upgrade the play parks at Ketelbey Rise in Hatch Warren; Mathias Walk in Brighton Hill; Moorhams Avenue in Hatch Warren; Oakfield Close in Ecchinswell; and Sinclair Drive in Churchill Way near the town centre.

The council has been criticised previously for its park upgrades, including the play parks at War Memorial Park and the Lime Pits.

A spokesperson for the council said it received “positive feedback” on its projects completed last year.

They added: “The council manages 150 play areas across the borough and is delivering a rolling programme to refurbish a number of these each year. We have received positive feedback on last year’s projects including The Lime Pits, Sibelius Close and Lennon Way play areas which are being well used.

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“Getting the right combination of equipment in our play areas is essential for the safety of our children as well as for the longevity of the equipment itself.

“Each play area has its own characteristics and challenges which have to be considered when planning upgrades. These include the location, size of and gradients within the site, existing use, visibility issues as well as the budget and ongoing maintenance needs.

“Because of these characteristics and challenges, we encourage residents’ views on things like the age ranges the sites should cater for, the appearance and style of the equipment and surfacing and the play experiences to be provided for each site. We also include site-specific questions as necessary.

“The council welcomes input from residents who share their ideas and comments with us, particularly those who use our playgrounds regularly or have local knowledge. We value their views and consider it carefully when planning a new play area.”

The council said nearby residents were contacted about the consultation on the sites closest to their homes and it also put up posters at Hatch Warren Park “due to its wider recreational use”.

Ward councillors have also been briefed on the projects and will be kept up-to-date on progress.

All feedback received during the consultation will be used to inform the final designs for each of the five sites, with work expected to be carried out in the spring of 2024.