Killjoy housing chiefs have been blasted after they banned children from PLAYING outside their homes – over health and safety fears.
Youngsters – some aged just three – have even been have threatened with legal action if they do not stop riding their bikes and scooters outside their properties.
Four families living on Wensleydale Drive, Blackpole, Worcester, received letters from Nexus Housing last week telling them to keep their children indoors.
Furious gran Carol Stanton, 53, was one of the residents who received a warning letter.
She said: “I regularly look after my grandchildren, Leah, three and Stacey who is six.
“I’m happy for them to play in the area next to my home which is sometimes used for cars to turn around.
“I received a letter from Nexus Housing claiming complaints had been made. I am livid.
“When I was a child, everybody used to play in the street. There’s no room in my garden for them to play skipping games so this is ideal.
“It’s safe and they’re with friends.”
“I called Nexus and someone told me the matter may be taken further. They said it was a health and safety issue but the children are still allowed to play further along the cul-de-sac.”
Another parent, Emma Turner, 26, had also received a letter from Nexus saying they had received complaints about her two daughters, Ruby Jane, six and two-year-old Evie Lee.
She said: “It’s stupid. Everyone is really friendly around here and they watch out for the kids.
“Nexus told me to keep my kids out of the area.”
Nexus Housing yesterday defended their decision to ban children from playing outside their homes, saying it was for “safety” reasons.
Assistant director Catherine Cole said: “The safety of our residents is of paramount importance to us.
“Last year we were notified that children were regularly playing in an area of Wensleydale Drive that is reserved for parking and car access to driveways in the street.
“We were understandably concerned about the potential dangers and wrote to all residents in the street.
“Over the past few months we have received further reports of children playing in the area.
“At no point – as clearly shown in the letter sent to the parents and guardians of the children identified in those reports – have we suggested that their playing is deliberate anti-social behaviour.”
Dozens of roads are now being closed to traffic for up to three hours a week as part of a nationwide drive to bring back ‘play streets’
A total of 24 local authorities across England and Wales have signed up to the scheme which it claims improves social cohesion and tackles childhood obesity.
