Key Points
- Greenwich Council launches a public consultation on the future of adventure play centres (APCs) starting November 17.
- The consultation aims to address a £45.1 million budget gap growing to over £100 million by 2028/29.
- APCs cost £730,000 annually; the council seeks to save £400,000 this year, £2.2 million over four years.
- Use of APCs varies, with the least visited site seeing 69 weekly visitors versus 273 at the busiest.
- Residents fear closures; petitions have been submitted demanding APCs remain open.
- The consultation runs four weeks, includes surveys, brochures, centre visits, and school focus groups.
- Campaign group Save Greenwich Adventure Play Centres criticises timing before Christmas but plans engagement events.
- Final council decision expected January 21, 2026, after consultation analysis.
What is prompting Greenwich Council’s consultation on adventure playgrounds?
As reported by Sarah Johnson of MyLondon, Greenwich Council is launching a public consultation on November 17, 2025, to review the future of its adventure play centres (APCs). This consultation follows a February announcement that the council would review the five APCs as part of its medium-term financial strategy for 2025/26.
The council faces a significant budget challenge, currently staring down a £45.1 million gap expected to exceed £100 million by 2028/29. The APCs cost around £730,000 annually to operate. The goal is to identify savings of £400,000 for the current financial year and £2.2 million over the next four years.
How does Greenwich Council justify the review of adventure play centres?
Council documents reveal that the existing APCs vary in how often they are used. For example, in May 2025, the Glyndon centre averaged 69 unique visitors a week, whereas the Plumstead centre saw 273 visitors weekly.
The council states it must make changes to the APC offerings “as it is necessary to make savings” and hopes the consultation will assist in transforming the youth play offer, making it
“more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable for the future.”
Additionally, the authority sees an opportunity for a one-off capital investment to improve open spaces close to the centres, aiming to make them “more accessible to more people, more often” as per the consultation documents shared by MyLondon.
What are the concerns of residents and campaigners regarding the consultation?
Many local residents fear some APCs could be shut down. Since the review was announced in February, Greenwich Council has been presented with multiple petitions demanding the centres remain open.
Lara Ruffle Coles, from the Save Greenwich Adventure Play Centres campaign, told MyLondon:
“Whilst we welcome yesterday’s announcement given the consultation was originally going to launch in the summer, we continue to be disappointed that the council is conducting the consultation in the run up to Christmas, and that it finishes mid December.”
She added,
“It should be running into the New Year when families are less busy with Christmas events at school and at home.”
Despite these concerns, Ruffle Coles expressed commitment to participate actively in the consultation, encouraging families to fill in surveys and join consultation events. The campaign group will also hold their own events at the play centres and attend the full council meeting on December 3 to raise their voice.
How will the consultation process work and what is its timeline?
The consultation will span four weeks from November 17 to December 14, 2025. It aims to “engage everyone potentially affected by the proposed changes,” according to Greenwich Council’s documents.
The council plans to run online surveys and distribute brochures outlining proposed changes. They will also hold visits to APCs and other community centres and potentially run school focus groups to gather diverse feedback.
Following the consultation, Greenwich Council will analyse the responses and prepare a detailed plan. A report summarising the findings and outlining next steps will be presented to the Cabinet on January 21, 2026, where a final decision about the APCs will be made.
What are the potential outcomes for Greenwich adventure playgrounds?
The council has not confirmed whether any APCs will close as a result of the review. However, residents fear closures to bridge the budget gap.
The future of Greenwich’s APCs depends on the consultation feedback and subsequent council decisions. The authority hopes to improve sustainability and accessibility while respecting the community’s needs.
The Save Greenwich Adventure Play Centres campaign remains vigilant and vocal, aiming to secure the continued operation of the playgrounds as vital youth resources.
