Chorleywood Common would be the best place to build a new playground, argues campaign group

The debate over where to build a new play area in the village has dragged on for years.

Chorleywood Parish Council set up a group to identify the best site for one and commissioned independent analysis of four possible sites.

And campaign group Chorleywood Mums has argued the independent research shows the best place would be The Common.

Simone Tyson from Chorleywood Mums said: “We believe Chorleywood Common is the best place on the back of the independent analysis.

“Every one of the locations has something which would need to be looked at, but if you look at all the facts and weigh them up, there is only one conclusion you can really reach.

“For us, the real positive of doing it around The Common is we will have the ability to allow the children to develop their play from a more restricted formal play area, for example, running around and treating The Common as a natural play area.

“You want to be able to nip in the park on the way home from having a coffee in Chorleywood, not get in the car and drive to somewhere like the Aquadrome.”

The 37-year-old also argued that a potential play-area would look natural, similar to fallen trees.

Two sites have been earmarked on The Common while another site has been identified in the grounds of Chorleywood House.

A final site has been identified in Grove Wood.

Three Rivers District Council has set aside almost £100,000 for a new play-area in Chorleywood.

Mother-of-two Myfanwy Ronchetti said: “We want another play area in Chorleywood because there is not enough play facilities.

“You are not going to give up on something like this because it is about making sure the children do not miss out on the opportunity they are being offered.”

In October 2013, 13 members of the Chorleywood parish council planning committee voted against the proposed development on The Common while only three members voted in favour of the controversial proposal - despite years of campaigning.

Plans to build a play-area on Chorleywood Common were thrown out due to health and safety concerns.

Friends of Chorleywood Common have argued both sites on the Common should be dropped from the latest plans, saying it is protected land.