**Children’s Play Area in Cardiff to be Relocated Following Noise Complaint from Neighbour**
A well-used children’s play space in the Llandaff North neighbourhood of Cardiff is to be moved after noise complaints and a subsequent payout to a resident, Cardiff Council has confirmed. The multi-use games area (MUGA) at Hailey Park, which has served as a focal point for community activities for years, has now been thrust into controversy after concerns were raised by a local household regarding its impact on residential tranquillity.
The dispute arose when a neighbour living near Hailey Park claimed the sound from the children’s facility had a significant negative effect on their quality of life. After lodging grievances with Cardiff Council and feeling those concerns were not properly addressed, the resident approached the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. The Ombudsman ruled in favour of the complainant, instructing the council to offer financial redress, including an initial £300 payment and a weekly stipend should the issue not be resolved promptly.
Local reaction to news of the relocation has been marked by disappointment and frustration, particularly among families who use the park regularly. Many residents expressed concern at the possibility of losing one of the last free recreational areas for children in Llandaff North. Following the council’s initial January statement that the play site would be removed without immediate replacement, a sense of outrage spread through the community, with over 1,000 locals signing a petition to preserve the MUGA.
Despite the substantial community backlash, Cardiff Council announced this month that it would proceed with plans to dismantle the existing play area and move it to a new site. The proposal forms part of the council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme (NRS) for 2025, funded through a combination of UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Funding and additional council resources. This scheme reportedly provides over £2 million for 27 community enhancement projects across Cardiff this year alone.
Councillor Lee Bridgeman, who holds the housing and communities portfolio, defended the decision, emphasising the council’s ongoing investment in improving public spaces and supporting local priorities. “These projects aim to offer tangible improvements to neighbourhood amenities, including play areas and shopping zones, in line with our commitment to build more vibrant Cardiff communities,” he explained. He also cited the completion of over 120 regeneration initiatives citywide since 2000 as evidence of the council’s dedication.
Specific information regarding the cost of relocating the MUGA or its future location remains unavailable. Cardiff Council has stated that play facilities will be maintained in the current park until an alternative is operational and funds are fully secured. Meanwhile, Friends of Hailey Park, a group devoted to preserving and enhancing the community green space, described the council’s action as “reactive”. They voiced disappointment that funding materialised rapidly to address a single complaint while previous requests for additional resources had been dismissed.
This situation highlights a frequent tension in urban planning—balancing the interests of individual residents against the needs and wellbeing of the community, particularly children. Several locals have pointed out that occasional noise is to be expected near a public park and questioned whether one objection should dictate such a major change.
For now, Cardiff Council says it is beginning a new round of community engagement, involving local schoolchildren and residents, to ensure any new facility meets the needs of the neighbourhood while addressing the noise concerns. The authority stresses its resolve to implement the recommendations issued by the Ombudsman and proceed thoughtfully with the redevelopment.
Questions remain about whether relocating children’s play areas in response to singular complaints should become commonplace, and the long-term impact this could have on open-access play for young people across Cardiff.
As the process moves forward, the community awaits further updates, hopeful that their voices will be heard—and that free, accessible spaces for children’s play will continue to be a protected priority in the Welsh capital.