The future of a popular Everton play area may have been decided by just 15 people. A public consultation held in November 2024 on Gregson Street play area saw only 15 attendees, despite letters being sent to 300 nearby properties. The play area is one of 43 run by Liverpool Council and remains shut with equipment removed.
According to a freedom of information response obtained by Kevin Robinson-Hale, attendees were given three options: keep the play area, repurpose it with benches and picnic tables for a viewpoint, or level and grass over the site. The document stated: "They all stated that they didn’t want the play area to be replaced or repurposed and would like the area to be grassed over." The group cited the area's older demographic and concerns about anti-social behaviour.
Community Shock
Kayleigh Harris, a mother of two, said she regularly used the park with her children and friends from dance school. "There’s a notice on it saying it’s been shut due to vandalism but the community looked after it," she told the ECHO. "They've just taken it all away without telling us."
Mr Robinson-Hale said many local residents could not remember being invited to the consultation. "We’ve knocked on most doors around Gregson Street play area, and no-one can remember being invited," he said. "The community deserves better."
Protest and Petition
A protest is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, when councillors gather at Liverpool Town Hall for their all-member meeting. A petition with over 130 signatures will be handed in, far outweighing the 15 consultation respondents from two years ago.
A Liverpool Council spokesperson said: "We have recently refurbished two popular play areas at Everton Park and we are still exploring viable options for the future of Gregson’s Park."
