As a resident of the Monkhams Estate 1975 I would like to reply to the front page article about the possibility of a playground on the green in Woodford Green (Bid for play area to unite community, Wanstead and Woodford Guardian, March 1).

The green itself is already a superb natural open play area. I used to take my four children to the green to play - collecting conkers, picking blackberries, running on the grass, jumping in the autumn leaves, having picnics, building snowmen, feeding the ducks, enjoying the open space. I now take my grandchildren.

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Children do not always need equipment to play on, just the freedom and space to run around. The beauty of the green is its natural openness with no artificial constructions.

The building of a wooden play area would be an unnecessary cost for the London Borough of Redbridge, plus maintaining it and keeping it clear of litter and generally clean and safe would add to expense for the council.

The wooden bench on the green outside All Saints’ church is frequently vandalised and any wooden equipment put on the green would almost inevitably be damaged as well.

The area where the equipment was erected might become an area where older teenagers or adults gathered at other times of the day or night for undesirable activities, possibly leaving unpleasant litter.

Presumably Redbridge Council would also be liable if any accident happened on the equipment, and insurance premiums or possible pay-outs might be costly.

Parking in any the area of the green is already extremely difficult and a play area would exacerbate this situation.

A play area on the green is not necessary; there are many open areas for playing in Woodford Green - the green itself, Knighton Woods, land adjacent to Woodford Golf Course, Ray Lodge Park, plus Highams Park in nearby Waltham Forest, to name but a few.

Local children already have many beautiful places to play.

Susan Hitching Monkhams Drive, Woodford Green