A PLAY area in Basingstoke is finally set to be assessed for ‘remedial action’ after it has been partially closed for nearly 18 months.

The Spencer Park, in Sinclair Drive, was partially fenced off in 2020 after borough council officers found that the play area and public open space near the park were ‘sinking’.

The park closure was a setback for more than 500 families with kids who live between the train track and Churchill Way.

READ MORE: Small businesses in Basingstoke call for more support

The Spencer Park, adapted by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, is the only play area in this area.

Cllr Arun Mummalaneni, who has been campaigning to address the issue and reopen the park, said he is glad that council officers have finally decided to survey the area for potential remedial action.

“I was informed that the council is arranging for an investigation to be undertaken by specialists to identify the exact cause of the problem without accepting the liability,” said Cllr Mummalaneni, who represents the Brookvale and Kings Furlong ward.

“This should help identify who is responsible and what enforcement powers the council or the statutory undertaker may have available to resolve the matter. 

“Cllr Sam Jeans and I are monitoring the progress on these works. We apologise for this unacceptable delay and inconvenience for our residents.”

The residents first noticed the subsidence of a part of the park in 2020. Council officers then fenced off the play area and public open space to the immediate south of house numbers 102 to 138 in Sinclair Drive.

However, the temporary fences kept falling over the months, making the site a health and safety concern to the public.

Cllr Mummalaneni said he has brought the issue to the council's attention back in 2020 as a resident. 

“I was informed this is a complex issue and required lot of coordination between various stakeholders. The officers from the council’s engineering, operations, property, legal, insurance, planning and landscape teams have been working together to try and resolve the matter.  

“Within the open space there are two rectangular areas of SUDs (Sustainable Urban Drainage) underground attenuation crates, which were installed as part of the wider housing development a number of years ago. 

“Approximately two years ago, the ground around the two areas of crates started to move and sink which is ongoing. It is possible that the subsidence could also be affecting a wider area than is visibly noticeable.

“As the costs associated with rectifying this problem could potentially be very significant, identifying the responsible organisation is very important for council insurance coverage purpose. Whilst the play area and open space have been adopted by the council, responsibility for the drainage system could reside with the developer under planning and building regulations or possibly the statutory undertaker Thames Water. Despite engaging with other stake holders, council couldn't get any acceptance of ownership or liability. Hence the delay.”

Meanwhile, the borough council's interim executive director for residents’ services, Tom Payne, said the causes surrounding the subsidence are complex and have taken some time to explore.

SEE ALSO: Bin collections in Basingstoke: Council leader demands Serco to be honest about service

He continued: “Exploratory works to establish the extent of the damage are due to be carried out by our contractors later this month and after that we will have a better idea of what remedial action needs to be taken.

“We understand that the closure of the play area is disappointing for residents and their families, however our first priority must be to keep everyone safe.”

A message from the editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support.

Subscribing means you have unrestricted access to the latest news and reader rewards - all with an advertising-light website.

Don't take my word for it – subscribe here to see for yourself.

Looking to advertise an event? Then check out our free events guide.

Want to keep up with the latest news and join in the debate? You can find and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.