DISQUIET over a dearth of play parks in leafy suburbs of Stockton has prompted calls for action from an MP.

But council chiefs have revealed they’re looking at options for new facilities in parts of the borough with fewer playgrounds. An online petition launched last year to try to bring a playground to Fairfield, Elm Tree and Hartburn had gathered 731 signatures as of this week.

Stockton South MP Matt Vickers and Hartburn councillor Niall Innes are among those displeased with the offer in the west of Stockton. The Conservative MP claimed the west of Stockton had been “neglected for far too long”.

He added: “The play park provision in Hartburn and Fairfield is not good enough and nowhere near equivalent to that enjoyed by many other areas. I am fully behind residents’ calls for improved play areas for their children.

“It’s important that any play park provision is put in the right place with measures to prevent it attracting antisocial behaviour – whether that be CCTV or ensuring the facilities are locked up overnight. But like those in Ingleby Barwick, Eaglescliffe and Grangefield, families pay their council tax and deserve good local facilities.

“I will continue campaigning to make sure residents in Fairfield, Hartburn and the west of Stockton finally get the play park provision they have been crying out for.” Cllr Innes said it was “bizarre” Hartburn and Fairfield “only had a single slide between them”.

He added: “Securing a play area in Hartburn would be a real start in getting much-needed play park provision in the west and would be of immense benefit to children in Fairfield as well.” A boom in housebuilding is gathering pace in the west of Stockton which is expected to bring new play areas once estates take shape.

Hartburn is ranked the 22nd least deprived ward in Stockton out of 26 – with council surveys showing higher proportions of households likely to participate in sport more than two hours per week. Figures from 2019 also show Fairfield ranks 15th in the deprivation table.

Meanwhile, Ropner Park offers a facility at the moment for those seeking a public park in the west of the borough. In response, Cllr Mike Smith, Stockton cabinet member for the environment and transport, revealed leaders were looking at what could be done within squeezed authority budgets.

He said: “We provide well over 40 play parks across the borough – in fact one of the biggest is in Ropner Park – as well as skate parks in Preston Park and John Whitehead Park. We regularly review our play park provision – of course, that’s always within the context of the limited funding available – and as part of that we are in the early stages of exploring options for additional play equipment in areas that currently lack access to local play facilities, including parts of Billingham, Norton and the west of Stockton.”