Mother says new Salisbury play park is not accessible for her daughter with cerebral palsy

A mother has described herself as "angry, upset and heartbroken" after a newly opened play park in Salisbury was found to lack equipment her two-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy can use, despite the site being billed as an "accessible space."

Rebecca Hemingfield Budge said her daughter, Hannah, who is non-mobile, non-verbal and reliant on a nasal cannula, was unable to use any of the swings, slides, turntables or climbing equipment installed at the River Park play area, which opened on 21 August. "There wasn't anything" Hannah could use, Rebecca said, adding that the family "didn't go any further" into the play area because "it was not fair to take my daughter into a playing area to watch other children play, when she can't play." "It's like taking a child and saying, oh, there's lots of sweets you can have, and then going in there and saying, well, actually, no, there isn't," she said.

Salisbury City Council described the site as an accessible space when it opened. Council leader Sam Charleston said provision had been made for "neuro-divergent children," but acknowledged the provision could "possibly be better." He did not specify further changes or a timetable for any adjustments.

Hannah's mother said the omission left the family feeling excluded from a facility publicised as inclusive. Rebecca's account highlights the practical barriers faced by families of children with complex needs when public play spaces are planned and delivered. She said the family found it distressing to bring her daughter to a space where she could not participate.

The play area at Salisbury River Park includes traditional playground equipment that, according to Rebecca, requires children to be ambulant or able to transfer independently. She said Hannah's medical and mobility needs — including reliance on a nasal cannula for breathing support — meant the existing installations were unsuitable.

Local authorities and organisations that plan outdoor play spaces routinely balance safety, cost and design goals; in this case the city council has framed the River Park site as aimed at providing for neuro-divergent children while acknowledging shortcomings. The council has not provided further detail on whether an accessibility audit was carried out before opening or what specific adaptations might be considered in response to the family's concerns.

Advocates for children with disabilities say inclusive play spaces can require specialised equipment, surfacing and design features that allow children with a range of physical, sensory and cognitive needs to participate. Families and local campaigners often press councils to consult users and disability groups when designing new facilities to ensure a broader range of needs are met.

Rebecca said the experience has left her determined to speak out about the gap between the park's description and its practical accessibility for her daughter. The council's acknowledgement that provision could be better leaves open the possibility of changes, but no specific commitments or timelines were provided in the statements made available following the park's opening.