Neighbor achieved dismantling of a playground and will receive compensation (5 photos)

A UK playground has been demolished after a single noise complaint. A man claimed that happy children kicking a ball around in the park was having a “significant impact” on his life. The “victim” was awarded £1,200 in compensation.





A neighbour was the only one to complain about noise from a play area in Cardiff’s Hayley Park, but the ombudsman upheld his complaint. The man admitted he had suffered with the problem for ten years and was tired of arguing with people in the park.

According to professional estimates, the sound of a ball hitting the wire mesh in the playground reached 90 decibels - about the same as a lawn mower.

He told the BBC: "I was trying to find a compromise solution that would not interfere with the children's play and would not cause problems for the local community. The possibility of using new, better equipment in a more suitable location is currently being considered."



Neighbours and park users are shocked by the decision.

Paul Rock said he feared the case would set a "really bad precedent": "I think it's unfair that public money should go to a private individual in these situations. The current location of the park is really good. However, when the houses were built there was a planning issue: they needed to be further away from the play areas."

Laura Kalirai, a local resident, expressed her concerns: "I'm worried about how far this could go. Should we be compensating people who are unhappy with where they live?"





Cardiff City Council has conducted a survey of children and will build a new play area in Llandaff Park, 50 metres from residential buildings.

Officer Jennifer Burke said she was delighted that the plans had been completed: "We've had some challenges but we've now got the opportunity to create a new area that will offer more fun for the children. It's a fantastic outcome."



Cardiff Council has spoken to 180 children about plans to build a new play area

"Play areas are usually a boys' area. But in this case the girls have shared their ideas too. This will help us create a space that meets their needs and is safe and inclusive," Burke added.



Park projects have already been presented