On August 17, Oxford city council’s north east area committee voted to defer a planning decision for the new Barton Play area, asking for more information.

I recognise that play is very important for children of all ages to help with their development – and I would argue that children in Barton need the stimulus that a specially designed play area would bring.

However, some local residents are concerned that there will be people who would deliberately spoil the equipment and the proposed community garden.

The height of the proposed mounds and some of the equipment, including an eight-metre high wooden tower, also raised local concerns.

Unfortunately, the report did not give enough detail about the site management and their concerns were not answered fully.

I would love to see a well-run community garden involving young people and a successful supervised play area.

I trust that solutions can be found so that residents of all ages can still enjoy the Bayswater Brook green amenity space.

Roz Smith Oxfordshire county councillor for Barton and Sandhills Oxford