AN EMPTY looking playground left one mum feeling 'sad' over the new The Look Out booking fees.
Bracknell Forest Council's (BFC) £5 fee to use the Swinley Forest site's play-area launched on Saturday, August 22, instead of the £10 fee previously required.
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Marie-Claire Paul said she visited The Look Out at 11am on her walk on Saturday and saw "sad looking children" not able to use the play area.
The swings were empty, no children were running about or laughing and no one was allowed to enter who didn't pay the fee.
However, the council said the playarea was closed for cleaning procedures at the specific time Ms Paul walked past.
The Look Outs booking system starts at 9.15am to 10.45am and 11.15am to 12.45pm.
BFC said gaps are to allow for appropriate cleaning and sanitising to keep visitors and staff safe.
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Despite this, Marie-Claire said: "It was very sad, so many children that would usually be playing were hanging out with their families around the park and no one allowed in.
"The traffic was blocking the main road with “car park full” signs outside the lookout but once in there were lots of empty rows and spaces, very sad to see an empty park."
BFC said about 500 pre paid wristbands were given out to people on Saturday who booked the playground.
Almost 1,000 people visited The Look Out across the weekend.
Cllr John Harrison, Executive Member for Culture, Delivery and Public Protection, said: “The Look Out playground is closed after each session, including between 10.45am and 11.15am, these closure times are clearly publicised on our website. This allows for cleaning and sanitising to take place and is just one of the ways in which our team is working hard to keep visitors as safe as possible from the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
“Therefore, the playground would have been shut for cleaning when the passer-by observed it was empty. It was purposely empty for cleaning.
“Around 500 wristbands were given out to people who booked on Saturday and a similar amount were given out on Sunday, which means nearly 1,000 people visited over the weekend. We know that this is a reduced number compared to usual summer peak periods, however, this is intentional in order to maintain social distancing.
“The advanced online playground booking system is necessary as it reduces the risk of overcrowding, and of people queuing to use these popular facilities.
“We have continued to see bookings come through for this week and would urge people to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment as a number of popular time slots are being sold out.”
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