Thank you to Jill Therkelsen for her recent letter on the refurbishment of the Abbey Gardens play area (Chronicle, Letters, January 26). 

As the parent of a child with autism and related challenges, I can only agree 100 per cent with her call for play areas that cater to the needs of children of a wider range of abilities and disabilities. 

We need more spaces in Winchester and across the district where children with disabilities can play and mix with other children, including their siblings.

Unfortunately, the old play area in Abbey Gardens did not meet this standard. In addition to being old and tired, it offered a limited range of play equipment, and was largely inaccessible for children (and parents) in wheelchairs and with other disabilities. The refurbishment of the play area is intended to help put this right.

Winchester City Council officers put accessibility at the heart of the project and consulted widely on the design of the new play area and the needs of its future users. Parents of children with disabilities, as well as parents who themselves had disabilities, contributed online and in person to consultations over the summer and since. Officers contacted to Shepherd's Down special school as well as Scope for guidance and have been responsive to suggestions as to how the new play area can be further improved and made more inclusive and accessible.

In recent months, groundworks have been carried out to create levelled pathways across the site, which will make it easier for children and parents in wheelchairs to move around -- as well as those with pushchairs. The new play equipment will be installed in March and much of it -- from the swings to the train and the roundabout -- is designed to be accessible to children with a wide range of abilities and disabilities . A space for social play has also been built into the design to give children a place to gather and engage with one another.

Will the new play area satisfy everyone? Almost certainly not. But bearing in mind the limitations of space and budget, and the need to cater to a diversity of needs and expectations, it will undoubtedly be a big improvement on what was there before and set a new standard locally for accessibility.

Finally, the Abbey Gardens play area refurbishment is just the first of nine play area upgrades planned in the town area in the coming years, meaning there will be plenty of opportunities to learn lessons and apply these to future play area schemes. Feedback and guidance from Ms Therkelsen -- and indeed from all of us with a special interest in and experience of children with special needs -- will be invaluable for council officers as they plan these future projects.

Cllr Charles Radcliffe,
Winchester City Councillor,
St Michael ward

Send letters by email to letters@hampshirechronicle.co.uk or by post to Editor, Hampshire Chronicle, 5 Upper Brook St, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8AL.

All letters and e-mails must include full names and addresses (anonymous letters will not be published), although these details may be withheld from publication, on request.

Letters of 300 words or less will be given priority, although all are subject to editing for reasons of clarity, space, or legal requirements. We reserve the right to edit letters.