PARENTS are calling for more inclusivity as Maldon District Council plans for new play equipment at Promenade Park.
The galleon play ship, a popular open-air playground for children, will be replaced by a newer version, the council has announced after plans received the green light.
The plans for the new playground show a new structure of 19.5 metres in width, 17.6 metres in depth and a maximum height to the top of the mast of 6.6 metres - taller than the existing ship.
Both the pirate ship and the lighthouse will include slides, climbing ladders and ropes, as well as zip lines and climbing walls.
However, the plans have been criticised by parents of children with disabilities, as they are deemed inaccessible.
Rachel Mower’s daughter Imelda, aged seven, needs a wheelchair and walker to get around and says the new playground seems more like an obstacle than a fun play area.
The Braintree mother said: “We like to visit Maldon, it has an accessible toilet and changing place and my son loves to cycle and scoot along the prom.
“But I can’t have one child playing, while the other one is forced to watch.
"My daughter knows that she is missing out, and it breaks my heart to see it.
“It's 2024, and my child is still left out. Kids have a right to play together and it would have been a great chance to create a space for all children to play.
"It can’t be an afterthought.”
Many parents have asked the council to share accessibility details, but without a response yet.
“We are more than happy to sit down at a table and help,” said Rachel, who emailed a list of accessible playgrounds in Essex to Maldon District Council to make bosses aware of the difference design can make.
“Turning off Facebook comments on your announcement about the new Galleon ship play park will not silence our community," she added.
"You have an opportunity here to provide an accessible park that will bring amazing publicity and improve footfall for purely doing the right thing.”
Steph Wisemen's daughter Bonnie has cerebral palsy and needs a lot of support from her loving family.
Steph, from Feering, said: "The play equipment is far from accessible, my daughter would not be able to use any of it, all she could do is sit at the side and watch which is unacceptable.
"I was really disappointed with the plans, children like Bonnie are always left out, they never think about what a disabled child needs.
"I can't get Bonnie out of her wheelchair without a hoist as she is too heavy to lift, so play equipment that she can do in her wheelchair is a must.
"We are so fed up of our children missing out on play cause they can't be bothered to be fair to every child."
A council spokesman said: "We are pleased to see residents and visitors engaging with us about this exciting project.
"We will be providing more detail about the new play equipment being installed to replace the Galleon over the coming months, before works begin later in the year.
"We will also be announcing our plans to replace the play equipment in the Sensory Play park as well, which is due to take place once the Galleon [play area] is replaced.
"We will be posting regular updates on the @maldonprompark Facebook and Instagram pages, and we encourage residents to follow us for regular updates.”
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