No plans to re-open Hoops play park

A play park on Bath’s Snow Hill estate, dismantled in 2021, will not be re-opened anytime soon, according to Curo, the housing association that manages it.

“After local consultation, Curo took the decision to remove the play equipment in 2021,” said Simon Hornsby, a Curo spokesman, in a statement.

“This was prompted by health and safety findings and the high cost of maintaining the playground at national standards - costs which were reflected in the service charge paid by local residents,” he wrote.

Hoops Play Park, on the north end of Snow Hill estate off London Road, previously contained a basketball hoop, play equipment and outdoor gym machines, but was stripped back in 2021, as The Bee reported in early April.

Councillors for Walcot, where Snow Hill is located, said they were urging Curo to bring back the space for residents’ use.

“It is very frustrating to see the lack of action from Curo on this green space,” said Oli Henman, Lib Dem councillor for the ward in a statement to the Bee.

Henman said he and fellow councillor John Leach were consulting residents on ideas for the space, including a community garden, and would be putting recommendations forward to Curo.

“We know how important it is for residents to have access to outdoor space for recreation and regular connections with nature,” said Henman.

Hoops had become overgrown with weeds and rubbish, and was recently cleared up by local Green Party volunteers.

“We want to see Curo restore the space to its original purpose,” said Saskia Heijltjes, Green Party councillor for neighbouring Lambridge.

“That means replacing broken or missing equipment like benches, adding play equipment and greenery, and making it a usable space again for children, families and local residents,” she said.

Curo’s spokesperson Hornsby said there was strong support for a garden and growing space to replace Hoops. But he told the Bee, “applications for grant funding to install planters were created, but this unfortunately fell through.”

Since the Greens’ clear-up however, the gate has been padlocked at both entrances.

Less than a mile away, another Curo-run playground at Valley View in Larkhall, looks colourful, shiny and safe.

In 2022, a B&NES Liveable Neighbourhoods workshop revealed that residents in the London Road and Snow Hill area felt there was a “lack of public green spaces along Snow Hill, which would encourage social interaction.”

The Council’s current green space strategy shows insufficient youth play spaces in most wards, although overall, the city provides enough general green space to meet the required threshold.

(Editor’s Note: Data within council documents is notoriously difficult to share, something local open-data activists have tried to address to no avail. Please see page 17 when you click on the hyperlink above to see the relevant data on green space and youth play spaces by ward).

“We think Curo needs to work with residents on this rather than managing it from a distance,” said Heijltjes. “A residents’ group…could play a real role in day-to-day upkeep, reporting issues and misuse, and keeping the space in good shape.”

Editor’s note: Joe tried in person and via online forums over several weeks to gather views from Snow Hill residents for this story, but it’s proven difficult. If you live in Snow Hill and would like to share how you feel about green space, or any other issue, please get in touch: bathbeenews@gmail.com.

Curo housing association has managed the majority of social housing units in Snow Hill since 1999, when B&NES Council transferred its affordable housing stock.