CHILDREN have placed posters on a Bicester park fence pleading with the town council not to close their beloved playground.

Under draft proposals released by the council, the children’s play area in Banbury Road could be demolished to make space for a community garden.

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However, residents who live nearby say they have not been adequately consulted in the plans and many feel strongly that the recreation area should be retained and refurbished instead.

Children have now expressed how much they love the park and want it to stay open.

A note attached to the fence signed off by Martha Cox said: “This park should not be closed, for children play and love this fun outdoor place. Yes, there’s a lot of parks around Bicester, but this park is fun and paramount. I have made many memories in this park so please don’t close it.”

Another park user Lucy Murphy wrote: “Me and my friends loved playing here and would hate to lose those memories.”

After a consultation held in March by Bicester Town Council, parks in Coltfoot Leys, Grebe Road, Sanderling Court and Banbury Road were tied with some people wanting to keep and refurbish them and others voting for them to be transformed into communal gardens.

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It would cost the council around £60,000 to refurbish, compared to £14,000 if turned into gardens.

The council is therefore recommended to choose just one of these parks to refurbish, hence Banbury Road being under threat from closure.

Susan Hall has lived in Bicester for 34 years and regularly used the park with her children and now visits with her grandchildren.

She is leading the Save Banbury Road Park campaign to save the equipment and spoke at a town council environment meeting last month stressing her views.

Ms Hall said: "I challenged the committee regarding the possibility that only one park would have the whole financial allocation for refurbishment because in my view this is very divisive. We are asking for a simple makeover."

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The town council has yet to make a decision on the future of the park, but county councillor for Bicester Town Michael Waine says he will continue in his 'active support for its retention'.

He said: "I was a Bicester Urban District councillor in the late 60’s when this area was developed. At the time the UDC was concerned to ‘level-up’ green space and children’s play provision in the town and the Woodfield area was clearly seen to be lacking. To my mind this remains true to this day when you compare provision with that at Langford, Bure Park and elsewhere in Bicester.

"This particular play area has served many generations of children already and must be allowed to continue doing so.