ONE can understand the concern's being expressed by Mr and Mrs Richards regarding the proposed re-instatement of the former toddlers' playground in the Marsh Way/Dimsdale Parade area of Wolstanton (The Sentinel, March 10).

However, they should not embellish their objections by distortion of the facts.

For instance, the former playground was not removed because of its failure. Indeed it was a popular playground.

It was removed, along with many other playgrounds in the borough, because it failed to comply with European Union legislation.

They quote inadequate lighting.

As I recall, the former playground's only lighting were the adjacent street lamps and when I last looked they are still there.

Indeed, about three years ago all the street lighting in the borough was improved, so obviously this lighting has also been improved.

Surely they are not suggesting playgrounds should now be floodlit?

On the subject of proper fencing, are they requesting more fencing on the Marsh?

If so, I admire their courage, but advise them to contact the headteacher at Maybank Infants School who is, I imagine, a very enlightened person on this subject.

They refer to patrons at the nearby public house using the playground after visiting the pub.

That's strange, I always found it was parents of the toddlers who used the playground, who called at the pub to round off a pleasant evening.

The facts are that when the equipment was removed a pledge was given by the then leader of the Labour-controlled Newcastle Borough Council, Eddie Boden, pictured below, that these playgrounds would be replaced when money became available.

Indeed, this became the stock response by Wolstanton Labour councillors.

Every time the issue was raised their response was: "We will put it back when the money is available."

So one could say the current council is seeking to implement a pledge made by the Labour party.

Mr and Mrs Richards are quite right when they say there is no other playground in Wolstanton situated so close to a public house.

Indeed the only playground in Wolstanton is just feet from traffic lights where cars pollute the atmosphere with their toxic fumes, ensuring the lungs of these children are contaminated every time they play there.

Should you wonder who insisted the playground was put there, it was Wolstanton's Labour members, the same members who made the pledge to put the playground back in Marsh Way.

R FARR

Wolstanton