Concerns about the lack of accessibility for disabled people and elderly residents at a public park in Caversham have been raised.
The Albert Road Recreation Ground has parkland, a play area and a car park, and is the home of the Caversham croquet and bowling clubs.
But complaints have been made about a series of accessibility issues faced by disabled and elderly residents who may want to use the park.
These include wheelchair users being unable to get through the pedestrian gate in Richmond Road, slanted pavements in Albert Road that make pushing a wheelchair extremely difficult, and no disabled bays in the car park.
Furthermore, none of the playground equipment meets the needs of children with disabilities, with the surface being made out of wood chippings and sand.
These issues have been raised by councillor Isobel Ballsdon, who represents the area, who has seen the problems first hand while visiting the park with Caversham Heights Cubs.
She has asked a leading Labour councillor to visit the recreation ground to work on fixing the issues at a recent council meeting.
Cllr Ballsdon (Conservative, Caversham Heights) said: “Residents have raised the current lack of accessibility at Albert Road Recreation Ground with me.
“Has the council considered potential improvements to ensure the space is inclusive and accessible to all members of the community, and will the lead member for leisure agree to meet with a group of my ward residents and me at the site to discuss these issues?
Her question was answered by Adele Barnett-Ward (Labour, Thames), lead councillor for leisure, who replied that the recreation ground has recently benefited from a six-figure upgrade.
She said: “Reading’s Labour Council maintains over eighty parks and open spaces and has invested more than £1.7 million since 2024 and £3.5 million since 2021 in public play and sports facilities in those parks and open spaces.
“Albert Road Recreation Ground was one of my nearest playgrounds when my children were younger, so I know it very well and have spent a great deal of time there.
“The council made improvements to Albert Road Recreation Ground last year: a £100,000 investment that refurbished the popular and free-to-use tennis courts, improved the car park layout and provided a new wheelchair-accessible entrance.
“We are also looking to refresh the car park markings. I have not received any representations from residents about accessibility at Albert Road Recreation Ground, so I would encourage them, and of course cllr Ballsdon, to email me with their specific concerns.
“I will also be happy to bring council officers to meet ward councillors and residents at the park to discuss these concerns in situ.”
The exchange took place at the council’s housing, neighbourhoods and leisure committee meeting on Tuesday, March 10.
A petition to make Albert Road Recreation Ground accessible to all is live on the Reading Central Conservatives website.
Both cllrs Ballsdon and Barnett-Ward are standing for the 2026 borough council elections, which will be held on Thursday, May 7.
