Families across Dover, Deal, Walmer and Sandwich are being asked to shape how the council spends money on children’s play spaces, with nearly £750,000 of investment already committed or planned across the district.
Dover District Council is consulting residents on the future of its play areas as part of a strategy running to 2026 — and what gets decided will determine whether children in towns and villages across the district have a safe, modern place to play within walking distance of home. The council has set a target of at least one equipped play space in every settlement of village level or above, with a local play space within 600 metres of homes and a strategic site within 1,000 metres.
A previous online survey drew 282 responses, and those findings fed directly into the council’s audit of existing sites and its investment priorities. Twelve play areas have since been identified as strategically important across the district.
Not all of them are up to scratch. The council acknowledges that while quantity is broadly acceptable across most of the district, some gaps remain — particularly in certain urban and rural locations — and it’s committed to raising standards at its own sites and supporting community-led improvements elsewhere.
Around £180,000 has already gone into three sites following community consultation:
- Travers Road play area, Deal
- Marke Wood, Walmer
- The Bulwarks, Sandwich
A major redevelopment of the play area at Kearsney Abbey, near Dover, forms part of a £675,000 wider revamp of the park. And a proposed refurbishment at Elms Vale Recreation Ground in Dover — valued at almost £75,000, combining developer contributions and council funding — had local school pupils involved directly in the design process. Which is exactly the sort of thing that tends to produce a better result.
Town and parish councils have fed in local knowledge throughout, and in some cases have led improvements at smaller green spaces themselves. The play area standards sit within the Dover District Local Plan, which is also out for public consultation.
Responses to the current consultation will be used to finalise priorities and standards for play provision through to 2026.
Dover District Council asks residents to help decide future of local play areas Quiz
5 questions