Glasgow dad hits out after 'only' playpark in the area locked

James Green lives near Hogganfield Loch and regularly takes walks in the area with his family.

Recently, the father-of-two noticed that access to the play area has been restricted.

He said: “I was up with my boys last week, there is a wee park to the right of the loch halfway, where you can take the kids and have a picnic. That has now been closed off.

“I used to just lift my boys over but it has now been locked with pliers and steel wire.

“My two boys, one of them is autistic, asked ‘why can’t we go and play?’.

“When you walk around to the other side, there is the other park, but it’s for tiny toddlers."

The Glaswegian's main worry is that without this facility, there is nothing in the area to encourage a more active lifestyle and keep children entertained.

He added: “It’s really unfair on the kids, especially during the summer holidays.

“We should be encouraging them to walk outside.

“There were swings, there is a wee ship, there used to be a rock swing, it’s minimum, hardly anything is in it.

"I am not saying we need a big state-of-the-art facility, I am just saying keep this wee one and let the kids walk around.

“To see it is to believe it, really."

Before the playpark was closed to the public, Mr Green claims, it was also not properly maintained, which led to a state of disrepair.

He said: “I use this area all the time and it’s beautiful but it’s getting run right into the ground.

"They have let it overgrow and the bits that are left, rust away.

“I don’t know if they have plans to knock it down but it’s already hard for kids.

“It’s such a shame.

“There used to be a wee bit as well where you could stand and feed the birds, that has been cordoned off as well and all the flooring has been ripped up.

“They are slowly but surely fencing off all the bits that my children grew up with.

“It was a very busy park and I used to take my kids there all the time but now, they don't want to go."

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: "We are very sorry for the inconvenience but the play area has been closed for safety reasons.

“A number of the play pieces have been damaged and are no now longer safe for use or suitable for repair.

“Plans to create a new play area at a different location within the park are being put in place as part of a programme of play area renewal across the city.

“Funding is available from the national scheme for play area improvements and we hope to begin consulting with the local community on the design of the new play area at Hogganfield Park as soon as possible.”