Children's Play Areas in Thetford

Thetford has a number of children's playgrounds. Most of these used to be owned and managed by Breckland District Council, but after years of neglect by Breckland, Thetford Town Council agreed to take them over around 2016, in return for a sum of money to cover initial maintenance and insurance.

The following play areas are owned and managed by Thetford Town Council, with annual maintenance generally performed by a contractor on their behalf:

• Bergamot Close Play Area
• Castle Park Play Area
• Cannons Walk Play Area
• Edinburgh Way Play Area
• Elm Road Play Area
• Fairfields Play Area
• Guildford Way Play Area^∗
• Harriett Martineau Way Play Area
• Maine Street Play Area^‡
• Pine Close Play Area
• Richard Easten Way Play Area^†
• Thetford Skate Park

Any issues with these play areas should be reported to the Town Council.

(∗ The original play equipment here was unsafe. It has been removed and not replaced. † As well as the play area, the Town Council also owns all three of the grassed areas on the estate. ‡ Play area set up by housing developer, but transferred to Thetford Town Council during winter 2018/19.)

There are also a small number of play areas that are not owned and managed by the Town Council:

• York Way Play Area (owned and maintained by Flagship Homes)
• New Hampshire Way Play Area (maintained by the estate owner, Flagship Homes)
• Josiah Drive Play Area (currently maintained by the estate developer, Hopkins Homes)

Previously, Thetford Community Ballpark, a multiuse games area on the Redcastle Furze estate was available for general use. It was managed by Thetford Community Association. But increasing costs led the Association to hand it over to the adjacent school, and it is no longer open for general community use.

The Bergamot Close Play Area, May 2020.

Media Links

• Important meeting for ballpark group, Thetford & Brandon Times, 24th April 2008.
• More play areas to transfer to council, Thetford & Brandon Times, 8th April 2011.
• Breckland blamed for state of Thetford play areas, Thetford & Brandon Times, 5th July 2012
• Thetford's play areas are changing hands, Bury Free Press, February 2016
• Concerns about state of Thetford estate ball park lead to community clean-up, Eastern Daily Press, 23rd May 2016.
• Play areas reopen across Norfolk and Waveney - but some councils hold off for safety, Thetford & Brandon Times, 7th July 2020.