Mrs Justice Eady has rejected a legal challenge against Islington Council over the closure of Paradise Park Children's Centre, ruling the application was 'totally without merit'. The council confirmed it will provide interim childcare from the site over the summer and beyond while seeking a new long-term provider.
Background of the closure
Islington Play Association (IPA) had managed four adventure playgrounds on behalf of the council until February, when it surrendered its £4.3m contract early due to financial turmoil. The council 'reluctantly' agreed to close Paradise Park, triggering protests from parents who sought to halt the shutdown through the courts.
On Monday, July 13, the High Court dismissed the judicial review application. The claimants, supported by dozens of parents, argued the council breached its statutory duty to ensure sufficient childcare and failed to act despite warning signs of IPA's financial problems over a year before the contract was surrendered.
Court ruling and costs
Mrs Justice Eady found the application 'misconceived' since the council's decision was a 'private contractual matter' not subject to judicial review. 'There is nothing to suggest [the council's] decision was made otherwise than in good faith,' she said. The judge ordered the claimants to cover the council's legal fees totaling £36,276.50.
Jonny Singer, speaking on behalf of the parents, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): 'We are disappointed about the outcome from the High Court, but we accept the judge's ruling. We maintain that it is morally unacceptable to shut an over-subscribed nursery, at extremely short notice and with no accountability.'
Council action and future provision
On Wednesday, July 15, Islington Council confirmed it would take over all IPA-managed adventure playgrounds and safeguard 29 jobs. Though Paradise Park will close on July 22, the council will provide interim childcare for a small number of children not yet placed in alternative settings or whose placements begin in September.
Leader of Islington Council, Una O'Halloran (Labour), said: 'I know it's been an anxious time for the families affected by IPA's decision to surrender the contract for Paradise Park nursery. With enough childcare available elsewhere, it didn't make sense to fund a new, permanent replacement, but we are committed to making the transition to alternative, affordable settings as smooth as possible.'
Playgrounds at risk
IPA ran four adventure playgrounds in the borough, which saw nearly 11,000 children attend at least one site between April 2025 and May 2026, according to the council. Reports of financial woes had fueled speculation that all centres faced closure, leading the council to deny rumors about plans to shut Crumbles Castle. However, the council has now confirmed all four playgrounds were at risk before it stepped in.
The council is seeking a new provider to run the four facilities in the long term.
