Playgrounds open to all children in lockdown, No 10 insists

Downing Street has moved to clarify that all children are allowed to use public playgrounds in England during the coronavirus lockdown.

Official government guidance states that play parks are “primarily" open for those who do not have access to private outdoor space, sparking confusion over whether those with gardens are expected to play only at home.

Parents have been demanding clearer guidance after two brothers aged 6 and 8 were told to go home by police as they made a snowman in a London park. The boys' father Tim Greany said they were told they should stick to playing in their garden, even though their flat does not have one.

Health secretary Matt Hancock this morning said that “of course” parents are free to go to parks to exercise with their children.

And Boris Johnson’s official spokesman confirmed that this applied to playgrounds.

The spokesman stressed that adults should not use a trip to the play equipment as an excuse for socialising with fellow-parents And he said they must maintain two-metre social distancing, even though this is not required from children at play.

Confusion arose after a Cabinet Office spokesman highlighted official government advice published in its coronavirus guidance, which says: Playgrounds are primarily open for use by children who do not have access to private outdoor space, like their own garden.”

Mr Hancock, who has himself been photographed playing rugby with his sons in the park, seemed surprised about the advice when questioned about it during a TV interview today.

He told Sky News: "That is the first I have heard of that.

"The rules are really clear which is that exercise outdoor with members of your own family or one other person one-to-one - where you keep that social distance - that is OK. We specifically kept that in the rules.

"Of course going to the park with your kids to play rugby is not only allowed but is totally fine."

And the prime minister’s spokesman later said that this applied whether the child’s family has a garden or not.

"It's reasonable for any families to take their children to the park and to use playgrounds,” the spokesman told a regular Westminster media briefing.

Setting out that social distancing rules remain in place for parents accompanying children to play parks, he said: "Obviously we accept that's not possible for children but we're asking for adults to maintain the two-metre rule when they are in those sorts of circumstances.”

He added: “People can - and it's perfectly reasonable, as the Health Secretary set out, for them to - take children to playgrounds or parks for the purposes of exercise, but we're asking people not to do so for the sole purpose of socialising."

All playgrounds were shut during England's first Covid-19 lockdown last spring, sparking complaints from parents who said their children were being denied the opportunity to exercise and socialise with others.