Parents have slammed Merton Council for revamping a much-loved playground which they say has fewer facilities, a poor layout and fewer wheelchair-accessible features.

The Dundonald Recreation Ground playground in Wimbledon, which mostly contains equipment from the old playground, was unveiled on Tuesday, March 17.

It is part of a controversial development project involving the expansion of Dundonald Primary School - currently being investigated by a parliamentary ombudsman after concerns were raised about Sport England’s role in supporting the development. 

Dundonald Rec Tennis Club and the friends group were pleased with news the parliamentary ombudsman would investigate.

A Sport England spokeswoman said it would not comment further until the investigation was complete.

The council originally reported the new playground cost nearly half a million pounds, but a press officer said today that the figure was the cost of the park re-development, not just the playground as previously stated.

From last week: Merton Council opens £467,000 playground in Dundonald Recreation Ground

She said: "The cost of the playground is just a small portion of the £467,000 investment in Dundonald Rec which also includes new tennis and netball courts, a new pavilion as well as the preparation for the improvement works for the forthcoming expansion for Dundonald Primary School."

Sam Carlisle, whose wheelchair-bound daughter enjoyed the old playground, said: "Not only have the swings been placed in the middle of the park where small children are running through, this wheelchair-accessible roundabout has been raised above a suitable level for wheelchairs and is in the middle of wheelchair-inaccessible mulch.

"This is the only piece of equipment my wheelchair-bound daughter can access in any of the local parks so it's infuriating they've messed it up."

Wimbledon Times:

A council spokeswoman said the playground would become "more accessible" once the next phase was completed.

The playground will be expanded by one third in summer 2016 when the existing recreation ground pavilion is demolished.

Ben Ford, a father-of-three who lives on Cliveden Road, also said he was concerned about the positioning of the swings. He said: "They genuinely couldn’t have been located in a more inappropriate place."

Yvette Stanley, the council's director of children, schools and families, said: "The new playground has already been enjoyed by many local children and is in a central location to complement the park and the school expansion.

"Accessibility issues were taken into account when the playground was designed and with the landscaping work being completed in the next phase, the play equipment will be made even more accessible for all children to use as the playground will be extended by a third."

Got a story? Contact Louisa on 020 8722 6335, or email louisa.clarence@london.newsquest.co.uk.