A MUM told Basingstoke council's Cabinet that more than 500 children in Oakley could have been left with just two bays of swings and a wooden climbing frame if a play area blitz had gone ahead.

Mrs Clare Playdell-Pearce was speaking at last Wednesday's Cabinet meeting where campaigners whose protests halted the controversial play area improvement programme had a chance to air their views to councillors.

The council is currently undergoing a major consultation process with residents before progressing the programme of works.

Mrs Playdell-Pearce said: "Our initial perception was that the four play areas in Oakley were going to be made safe and improved.

"We had hoped all the equipment was going to be upgraded, modernised and expanded. But much to our disappointment we found that all the equipment was to be removed.

"It was to be replaced by a couple of bays of swings in one play area and a climbing frame.

"We have produced a rough figure of the total of three to 11-year-olds in Oakley based on school and nursery rolls and that amounts to just over 500 children.

"Two bays of swings and a wooden climbing frame is woefully inadequate for that amount of children in a predominantly residential area such as Oakley."

The improvement programme on Basingstoke's 180 play areas was halted in August after a mass outcry from residents.

Petitions about play areas were presented to the Cabinet last week from Popley, Brighton Hill, Hatch Warren and Oakley.

Mother-of-three Mrs Christine Cannings, of Popley, presented the councillors with drawings done by children on how they wanted their play area to look in the future.

"We understand the need for it to be revamped for safety rules but we don't want to lose our park," Mrs Cannings told the meeting.

Council leader Rob Donnelly pledged: "Before any further work is undertaken on any play areas residents will be consulted."

One petition presented to the Cabinet called for a play area to be closed. Mr Steven Vickery said he was speaking on behalf of residents of Bach Close who wanted the play area there removed.

"For two-and-a-half years we have been subjected to hooliganism and yobbos and broken glass and drug-related problems," he told the Cabinet. "The play area is opposite our house. It consists of a metal car that is dangerous. It is just used as a meeting place for undesirables of all sorts in Brighton Hill."