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Fury at lawn ban for kids who live in flats


CHILDREN who live in a Basildon apartment block have been banned from using the gardens in case they ruin the grass.

Exasperated parents living in Thistledown Court, Long Riding, can’t believe the housing association, Family Mosaic, has locked their children out.

Residents at the block, which opened two years ago, have received a letter from Family Mosaic warning them to keep away and not wreck the manicured lawns.

The three gardens are now fenced off and locked up, leaving parents with little choice but to let children play in the car park – the only other open area.

Darryl Fletcher, 24, who lives there with his partner Zoe Davis, 27, and her four-year-old son Owen, said: “We couldn’t believe it when we got the letter. We would never have moved in if we’d known the kids would have nowhere to play.

“There are 15 young families living in these apartments, and it’s a total waste we can’t use the gardens.”

Another woman, 34, who also lives there with her son, fears there will be a serious accident if the children go on playing in the car park.

She said: “We don’t want our kids playing there, but we’ve got no choice.

“I worry someone will knock one of them over, but we can’t keep them inside all the time.”

When contacted by the Echo, Family Mosaic said the lawns were locked as they were insecure, but did not explain what this means.

Spokeswoman Susannah Colgate said: “There is a fenced off grass area that they currently don’t have access to, as it is currently not secure.

“Meetings will take place during the next couple of weeks to get this resolved.”

Comments(7)

WTF is wrong here says...
3:56pm Wed 8 Jul 09

They could go to Neverland and play safely now HE'S not there.

shallotman says...
5:02pm Wed 8 Jul 09

WTF. wicked

TheWizzard says...
7:55pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Perhaps they are planning more flats?

perini says...
12:50am Thu 9 Jul 09

She said: “We don’t want our kids playing there, but we’ve got no choice.

You could always take them to the park but I suppose that's far too much effort - far easier to chuck 'em out the back door to terrorise the neighbourhood.

E$$ex77 says...
9:09am Thu 9 Jul 09

What about the big playing field opposite?? Yes i know there is a road to cross but if they are two small to do that then surely that can't play out the front on the grass by the car park either on their own.

RachelF says...
4:08pm Thu 9 Jul 09

I live in these flats with my 2 children and we dont let them play outside on there own we are there 2 supervise them, but thats not the point. Why should we walk 2 the park everyday after school so they can play when we are paying a service charge 4 a garden we cant even use!!
Mosaic have said the garden is unsecure, how can it be unsecure when there is metal fencing around it and padlocks on the gates!!

perini says...
10:03pm Thu 9 Jul 09

Why should we walk 2 the park everyday after school so they can play when we are paying a service charge 4 a garden we cant even use!!

Because they are your kids perhaps? If you don't like the landlords rules - move, or take it to its natural conclusion through the court!


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