A GRANDMOTHER says “it would be brilliant” for parents and children if a play area campaign proves successful.

Meg Bruce, who lives in Woodford Wells, is one of a group of families, children and carers battling to get a playground in the Monkhams ward to bring the community together.

Campaigners require £30,000 for equipment and drainage. They have also set a target of 1500 signatures for their online petition urging Redbridge Council to back their plans.

The City of London Corporation owns the land but campaigners cannot progress until Redbridge Council agrees to maintain the play area.

Ms Bruce says children like her granddaughter would benefit from a play area within walking distance.

She says: “It would be brilliant. It would be somewhere to take my little granddaughter, who’s three. All the kids coming out of school would have somewhere to let off steam.

“It’s good for the kids to play and get some fresh air. If you want to go to a play area we have to go to Ray Park which you can’t walk to.

“It’s a gorgeous area and it’s good for people to meet up. You could organise functions for that but they cost money. Schools see it as good for children’s sense of adventure.”

So far, campaigners have gained backing from the likes of Saint Antony’s Catholic Primary School and Trinity Catholic High School in Woodford Green. They also hope to get backing from the likes of St Aubyn’s and Bancroft’s.

Iain Duncan Smith, Conservative MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, has also thrown his support behind the campaign.

The playground would feature six pieces of natural play equipment made out of wood, including stepping stones, a balance beam and walking bridge.

Campaigners like Ms Bruce have encountered some resistance to the idea but have reassured sceptics that their worries are being taken into consideration.

Ms Bruce says: “Some people are opposed to it on the grounds of parking but the idea is to get people to walk. People are also scared about litter but we are thinking about these things.”

Campaigners will start a paper petition, distribute leaflets and call on schools to show their approval by expressing support in written letters.

They also hope to gain something from the Redbridge Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CiL) grant.

So far, 966 people have signed the online petition, which you can see here.

A spokesman for the City of London Corporation says: “We believe that children’s play is best provided through engagement with the natural world – climbing trees, building shelters and playing with natural elements such as water, mud and sand.

“And we recognise that some open spaces don’t offer children these opportunities for more creative play but it is ultimately up to the local authority to provide this. 

“We have offered to host natural play equipment in keeping with the Forest setting, provided that there is an agreement with the local authority that they fund, maintain and inspect play facilities and subject to approval by the Epping Forest & City Commons Committee.”

A spokeswoman for Redbridge Council says: “The leader of the council has made a commitment to meet with local residents to discuss the play park in Monkhams.

"Over a four year period, we are going to invest £1.6 million into our borough’s 29 parks and open spaces to facilitate health and wellbeing and help local children develop their social and creative skills”