PLAY areas across the borough are set to be taken away and left as open space as part of Basingstoke council's safer playgrounds initiative.

The areas most affected are Brighton Hill and Hatch Warren.

While the move is driven by safety, protests have already been started by some residents and children unhappy about the prospect of completely losing the play areas.

The first many residents knew of the council's plans was when a leaflet dropped on their doormat listing all the play areas in their locality where work is to take place.

In Brighton Hill, nearly 20 play areas will go and this has angered parents and children.

Mother Jody Smith has four children who regularly use two play areas in Brahms Road and Wagner Close which are set to be axed.

She said: "We were under the impression they would change the surfaces, but when the letter came through it said they were only improving two or three parks.

"It's guaranteed that if the kids haven't got anything to do they'll wander."

The nearest park for the children once the play areas are taken away is one behind Brighton Hill Parade a park that attracts a lot of older children.

Jody added: "These little parks are an easy way for parents to keep the kids safe. We don't want them to take our parks away."

The removal of play areas comes under the council's new improvement policy in response to public concern over the safety of play areas.

Over the next six months, starting this month, facilities highlighted as a risk will be removed while others are modernised and safer equipment is installed. The council's long term aim is to modernise all the remaining play areas in the borough.

Cllr John Shaw, Cabinet member for recreation and culture, said: "Some areas, such as Brighton Hill, have a large number of very old play areas."

In response to criticisms of the way residents have been informed, Cllr Shaw said: "Residents and councillors of Brighton Hill were previously consulted over the action plan for Brighton Hill.

"The findings of this exercise guided the improvement of play areas that has already been undertaken in Brighton Hill and prov-ides the guidance concerning the play areas which need to be removed."