The leader of Islington Council has publicly denied social media rumours and addressed a petition suggesting that Crumbles Castle Adventure Playground is facing closure. The petition, launched on change.org under the title 'Save Crumbles Castle Adventure Playground,' has garnered 467 signatures as of the time of publication.
The petition starter did not specify the source of their concerns about the playground's potential shutdown. They described the facility, which overlooks Bingfield Park in Islington, as 'one of the few places where children can play freely and safely after school and during holidays.'
Councillor Una O’Halloran, Leader of Islington Council, issued a statement to clarify the situation. She emphasized that there are no plans to close the adventure playground. 'The council is aware of a recent petition which suggests that there are plans to close Crumbles Castle Adventure Playground. This is not correct,' O’Halloran said. 'The council has not taken any decision to close Crumbles Castle or any other adventure playground in Islington.'
O’Halloran explained that Crumbles Castle is operated by the independent charity Islington Play Association (IPA), which manages four adventure playgrounds across the borough. 'We are aware that IPA is facing financial challenges and we are in close contact with the charity’s trustees. Our priority is to ensure continuity of provision for children and families,' she added. 'We recognise how important these spaces are for children and young people, and we remain committed to supporting high-quality, accessible play provision across the borough.'
The council's statement aims to reassure residents and parents that the adventure playground remains a valued community asset, with ongoing support from local authorities to maintain its operations.
