The families and carers of children with mobility issues and long-term health conditions have told me they feel left behind as a result of a lack of accessible play equipment for them to use.

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Most playgrounds aren't suited for those with these additional needs as there are design features which aren't always accessible. Wheelchairs would often have to pushed through sand and grass to get to the equipment, heavy gates into the play area are difficult for parents and carers to hold open while pushing a wheelchair through and the equipment most used is not only inaccessible but unsafe for someone with mobility issues to use.

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Tandridge District didn't have any accessible playgrounds so I moved a motion at the Full Council meeting of 15 December 2022 getting the Council to commit to providing playground equipment for those in the District with mobility issues and long-term health conditions. This was agreed unanimously by the Community Services Committee of the Council and Oxted Parish Council opened the first inclusive playground in Tandridge in May 2023 at Barnett's Shaw Play Area. I attended the opening of this with Parish and District Councillors in Oxted.

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I am now campaigning for more accessible play areas in Surrey.