Permanent Play Equipment
Case reference FOI2026/01879
Received 5 August 2026
Published 2 September 2026
Request
I am seeking information about permanent play equipment.
I would like:
1. A list of playgrounds you are responsible for (please say in which year you became responsible for each playground);
2. To know how many playgrounds you were responsible for in (a) 2016, (b) 2021 and (c) 2026;
3. To know if you are planning to open or close any playgrounds in the medium term, and if so, where;
4. To know the total capital spend on permanent playground equipment in each financial year since 2015/16*;
5. To know how much capital spend you have planned for permanent playground equipment in your medium term financial plan (please specify the year ending).
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*In (4), I am seeking a figure for permanent playground equipment including both upgrades and new equipment - I am not seeking a breakdown.
I do not need to know the sources of funding (e.g. grants/council tax etc.).
I have chosen "medium term" because a large number of councils use this wording. Of course, you may use a different phrase for the same concept, that is to say, the next few financial years.
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Response
I am seeking information about permanent play equipment.
I would like:
1. A list of playgrounds you are responsible for (please say in which year you became responsible for each playground);
2. To know how many playgrounds you were responsible for in (a) 2016, (b) 2021 and (c) 2026;
Answer: For questions 1 and 2, please see the attached FOI2026 01879 Q1 & Q2 Response Spreadsheet.
3. To know if you are planning to open or close any playgrounds in the medium term, and if so, where;
Answer: The Service Area have advised no closures are planned in the medium term.
4. To know the total capital spend on permanent playground equipment in each financial year since 2015/16*;
Answer: Please see the tale below for the total capital spend on permanent playground equipment:
2015/16 £0
2016/17 £0
2017/18 £0
2018/19 £0
2019/20 £0
2020/21 £104,087.62
2021/22 £0
2022/23 £0
2023/24 £0
2024/25 £0
2025/26 £0
5. To know how much capital spend you have planned for permanent playground equipment in your medium term financial plan (please specify the year ending).
This information is publically available on our council website and can be viewed via the following link:
https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=10851
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
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*In (4), I am seeking a figure for permanent playground equipment including both upgrades and new equipment - I am not seeking a breakdown.
I do not need to know the sources of funding (e.g. grants/council tax etc.).
I have chosen "medium term" because a large number of councils use this wording. Of course, you may use a different phrase for the same concept, that is to say, the next few financial years.
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Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.