Council denies parent playground ban

Watford Borough Council has been accused of denying parents access to two adventure playgrounds, Harwoods and Harebreaks. The story was widely reported in the press, which said the council had installed the ban as a reaction to the government's new stringent vetting and barring rules.

But a spokesman for the council said: "The press have inaccurately reported what Harwoods and Harebreaks are; they are not open public facilities. They never have been. They are closed, fully supervised facilities.

"They are no different to other fully supervised facilities, like schools, playgroups or nurseries - where adults are not allowed to stay."

He went on to point out that Watford is home to four community centres, five children's centres, over 40 areas of park and playgrounds, as well as a museum and two libraries. All are free to attend and open to everyone.