Nafsika Butler-Thalassis

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to “save the monkey bars” after parks chiefs moved to replace popular play equipment with a large digital screen.

Everyone Active wants to remove the climbing equipment in Paddington Rec and instal a “smart activator”. It would screen pre-recorded exercise classes in a bid to “inspire and activate people of all ages to improve their health, fitness, and wellbeing”.

Objections to the planning application have flooded in to Westminster City Council, however, with parents saying that parks and play areas should be screen-free.

One parent said: “I wholeheartedly object to this tearing down of the monkey bars to instal this screen. Don’t we have enough screens in our daily life?

“The green spaces we do have in the city are limited. This does not encourage our children to love our planet and the nature around them.”

The planning application by Everyone Active said light pollution would be kept to a minimum. The screens are described as “multi-award winning high quality screen and smart city kiosk”.

Another parent responded: “Screens in the park?

“It must be a joke. I personally don’t want any of that in this wonderful place.”

Another objector said: “Climbing on the monkey bars is my son’s favourite at Pad Rec and seeing that there are plans to replace them with a screen is inconceivable, not least because of its aesthetics.

“Do people really need a screen to exercise?” They added: “Please do not remove the monkey bars. They are much loved and heavily used by children. Let us keep the simple things that work with low maintenance.”

Councillors have rallied around the monkey bars, including Maida Vale Labour’s Nafsika Butler-Thalassis­, who said: “My daughter and her friends love these monkey bars. I don’t see why this digital screen needs to take their place. Let’s put it in a different part of the park and see whether it actually helps people exercise before we tear down well-loved equipment we know works.”

Fellow ward councillor Geoff Barraclough added: “The monkey bars and the surrounding area is well used by residents as well as personal trainers running small classes. There is no need for digital entertainment here.”

The planning application said: “The new smart activator screen will be located in the existing monkey bars exercise area to the southern side of the park. The screen will be facing north and away from the residential buildings along Grantully Road. The trees and vegetation along the southern perimeter of the park will provide a natural screen to block out any light coming from the screen.”