Parks, play areas and housing

Councillor Allan Joseph, who represents Hanworth Village, uses this week’s Conservative Group column to discuss his vision for Hounslow’s green spaces in 2026, the urgent need for inclusive play equipment for SEN children, and the fight against anti-social behavior in our local parks.

A new year is more than just a change in the calendar – it’s a chance to begin again. It reminds us that no matter how the past year went, we’re allowed to grow, learn, and try once more. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year filled with pleasant moments especially in our parks, laughter in our play areas, and peace in our homes.

Parks and play areas

I have been actively working on identifying and proposing improvements to our parks and play areas, many of which are currently not in a suitable condition for regular use by residents, particularly children and for adult activities such as park runs, walking, exercising and general outdoor recreation. The anti-social behaviour in the parks directly affects the safety of residents using green spaces in Hounslow.

Several of these parks and play areas are located near schools and are frequently visited by children after school hours. However, due to the lack of appropriate and sufficient play equipment, children are finding it difficult to use these spaces safely and meaningfully.

This issue particularly affects parents of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). In some cases, parents drop one child at a nearby mainstream school and then need to wait before dropping their SEN child at the school for additional learning needs, as it starts slightly later in the morning. During this waiting period, parents often rely on nearby parks. However, the poor condition of these spaces and the lack of inclusive, engaging equipment mean they are not suitable for SEN children to use during this time.

Improving these parks and play areas would greatly benefit families, provide safe and inclusive spaces for children of all abilities, and better support the needs of the local community. We are progressing to the next steps in the Bear Road park redesign and developments, however, the concerns remain across many parks in the borough.