We have to pay £300-a-year to use our estate’s broken playground – but strangers just visit and use it for free | The Sun
FAMILIES have been left furious after having to pay to use their estate's broken playground even though strangers visit and use it for free.
Residents on a vast new-build estate in Merlin Park, Nottinghamshire, are charged £300 a year for maintenance and have complained of being "fleeced".
To make matters worse, the popular green space with children’s traditional equipment plus a zip wire and basketball court is a magnet for outsiders.
Locals are also complaining that some of the fun equipment is faulty while a multi-seat swing has broken and been removed.
And others have grumbled about pot holes in the uneven ground and parking by non residents blocking their access.
Dad-of-three Rubin Fongue, echoing the sentiments of fellow residents said: “We love living here right opposite this amazing park for our kids. But we’re paying for it and everyone else is using it.
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“We don’t have a problem sharing it but it is wrong for the development company to charge us an annual maintenance fee.”
49-year-old Rubin lives with his wife and their triplets right opposite the park which is on an escalating private estate but is “a free for all.”
The disgruntled dad told The Sun Online: “There is no other park nearby so everyone comes here.
"The problem is we are paying nearly £300 a year to maintain it with that price rising, on top off forking out for council tax."
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Rubin, whose two sons and a daughter enjoy playing in the park, continued: "I feel we are being fleeced, paying a community charge for our park and again paying a council responsible for local amenities.
"In effect we are being charged twice for a benefit of living here – our lovely open space and park – and that is wrong.”
His children regularly use the play area on transformed land but have been facing problems.
He explained: “The maintenance company charged £86,000 to maintain the park, according to the latest accounts, and the ground is still full to pot holes in places.
“I’ve hurt my ankles a couple of times when I’ve been having a kick around with my boys so how can they charge that amount and justify it?"
Fellow resident Luke Parklin, 36, is fuming about visitors illegally parking in his street Airfield Way – despite No Parking signs – and blocking him in.
The father-of-two said: "I have a problem with the outsiders. I pay my maintenance fee for the park.
"They park right outside my house in a restricted area and I can't get my van on and off the drive, its a struggle."
While dad-of-two Daniel Kirk, 35, told how the council had advertised the park on its website as a go-to park in Hucknall which “everyone then descended on.”
He said: “We asked the to take the post down and they finally did. But people from outside are still coming here and stuff is getting worn out.
“The swing is continually damaged and isn't even in operation right now."
The park should be for the community who live and not for outsiders. It should be gated"
Another local, who denied to be named suggested that the community should be "gated".
They added: “The park should be for the community who live and not for outsiders.
“A maintenance charge comes with the territory but people outside the development are using it. The parking is a nightmare.”
However, other residents didn't have a problem with the annual maintenance charge if they used the park.
Mum-of-three Ruta Tarika said she is happy paying the hefty maintenance charge as her children “benefit from the play area.”
But she feels it is unfair that all residents, those without kids and not using the facility, are charged too.
Latvian Ruta, said: “We pay £280 annual fee, it’s a lot of money and is going up. But the children love it here and it feels safe.
“Yes the swing is broken and other people not living here use it but is in not a big problem.”
Ruta, mum to seven-year-old twins Max and Nora and elder daughter Sophia, nine, added: “But is it unfair that we all have to pay. My husband's parents also live on the estate.
"They don't use the park but still her to pay the maintenance. That seem unfair.”
While some non-residents who visit the park were happy to regularly use the facilities for free.
Emma Goose, a mum-of-two, boasted: “We love coming here for free! It is a lovely park. I live 10 minutes’ drive away ins Bestwood Village but come and park up to use the facilities."
While a childminder visiting with her two charges said she completely understood why locals were angry.
She said: “I understand why locals are unhappy.
"We’re invading the space they are paying for, but it is a free for all and it is such a nice space. Why wouldn’t we use it when we can? We don’t pay to come here.”
However it could get worse for residents with annual maintenance fees set to rise for householders and 1,000 new homes due to be built.
Merlin Park is built on a former Rolls-Royce aerodrome site and once tested experimental aircraft.
It is owned by the charitable Land Trust who was given the site by developers in 2019 for a nominal £1 fee.
A Land Trust spokesperson said that the residents were charged in line with the legal documents signed when purchasing their properties.
The Trust added: "This charge is specified within the legal documents, which also state that the fee should increase on an annual basis in line with the Retail Price Index.
"The Land Trust is aware of the current squeezes on the cost of living and therefore we work to keep any expenditure each year as low as reasonably possible.
"The Land Trust instructs contractors to maintain the green spaces following a schedule of works which are inspected regularly to a set standard.
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"This includes any damaged play equipment which is removed and replaced as soon as possible in line with health and safety."
One sign at the park entrance welcomes : “Merlin Park is open to all. There are recreational areas to suit all ages, including a toddler play, a multi-use games area, a trim trail and playground running track.”
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