PLAYTIME has just got cleaner and safer for youngsters in Cowley.

Children and parents have been celebrating after fences were put up around the play area at the John Allen Centre.

The site, in Cleveland Drive, Cowley, was refurbished as part of a £2.5m project by Oxford City Council.

Work was completed in 2009, but parents were unhappy when the old fences were taken away.

They said it left the play area open to dog walkers and the dog mess meant it was unhygienic for children.

Ward councillor Shah Khan said: “The fences were originally taken away because they were old and our consultations showed most people wanted them taken down to make the play area more appealing.

“But it quickly became clear that this left the play area open to dogs and I have had a lot of parents say it made the area dirty.

“We have been trying for some time to get the fences up again to make the area more accessible to children.”

The fences were replaced last week with £5,000 from the city council.

Mr Khan said: “Lots of parents have told me how pleased they are with the new fences.”

Mandy Grime, 29, takes her three-year-old son Kai to the play area.

She said: “This will definitely mean I will take him there more often.

“Dogs should be allowed in a park, but not around the children’s equipment. It was a bit dirty and Kai doesn’t like dogs so I think he’ll be much happier. Plus the children could run out of the park and there is a main road not far away. I can run after Kai, but if older people are taking kids to the play area, they wouldn’t be able to.

“When you take your child to the play area, you want to know they are safe. Now we do.”