Home / Lifestyle / Villagers Demolish Children's Play Park After Noise Complaints, Costing Council £130,000
Villagers Demolish Children's Play Park After Noise Complaints, Costing Council £130,000
16 Nov
Summary
- Villagers sued council over 'noisy' football games at children's play park
- Council ordered to pay £130,000 to two residents after legal battle
- Play park in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, has been demolished
In a surprising turn of events, a children's play park in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, has been demolished after a group of villagers successfully sued the local council over the 'noise' of football games. The multi-use games area (MUGA) first opened in 2010 after a community fundraising campaign, but soon faced complaints from three residents about the sound of 'bouncing footballs' hitting the metal sides.
After years of legal battles, the council has now been ordered to pay £130,000 to two of the complainants following a hearing at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on November 16, 2025. The decision has been met with dismay by many in the community, who enjoyed the park as a place for children to play and get active.
"We are dumbfounded by this decision to demolish the MUGA," said Carly Dunningham, a local mother. "A facility for the community has gone, so I would like to ask them (the people who complained) how they feel?"
The council had initially been given four months to solve the noise problem, either by closing the site or relocating it further away from homes. However, they ultimately decided to tear down the games area and skate park, citing the need to "abate the noise and resolve a five-year legal process."
