I want to express my concerns about the John Allen Centre Play Area refurbishment.

Basically, it was a waste of money.

We have cheap wooden toys, cheap safety matting, and took away the fence which protected children from dogs, drunks and druggies. Great: they can all mingle together now!

Needles, cans of beer, dog litter will all now be in the same place.

There is an increase in the number of dangerous dogs being handled by irresponsible people in society, and also an increase in dog litter. People don’t ‘scoop the poop’.

Also, where did the landscaping come into all this?

They could have left the park as it was and just repaired and painted the original equipment. It was much stronger and would have easily lasted for another 20 years anyway.

These new toys won’t last for more than four or five years.

What gets me is that the vicinity is already known to the council and police as a centre for antisocial behaviour, which is potentially dangerous at times.

I have seen adults urinating in the park at 4pm, in front of children. I have even called the police about it.

Now drunks would be able to urinate even closer to the play area.

I am sorry to be so negative, but what a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Peter Gill, Cleveland Drive, Cowley, Oxford