Parents furious as Leeds Castle in Kent BANS scooters, bikes and wheel-based toys

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Bosses at the 12th century Leeds Castle in Kent enforced the ban this week
Children are now prohibited from wheeling around its 500-acre grounds
Parents expressed their fury on Facebook saying the news was 'ridiculous'

Published: 08:44 EST, 4 September 2015 | Updated: 08:59 EST, 4 September 2015

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Parents have been left fuming after kids were banned from riding scooters, bikes and 'wheel-based toys' in a health and safety crackdown in the 500-acre grounds of a historic castle.

Bosses at the 12th century Leeds Castle, near Maidstone in Kent, announced the decision this week, saying kids are now banned from zipping around its 500-acre grounds.

The crackdown came into force on Monday, with castle chiefs saying bikes, scooters, Heelys skate shoes, roller blades and any 'wheel-based' toys were now outlawed.

Bosses at the 12th century Leeds Castle in Kent this week announced they are banning scooters, bikes and wheel-based toys in a health and safety crackdown

Parents - who paid £21.60 for adults and £14.40 for kids - arriving at the castle this week, said they were 'boycotting' the castle in future, saying it was 'pointless' taking kids there if they couldn't scoot or ride in the grounds.

Many said the distance from the car parks to the playgrounds was 'far too great' to walk there and back for little kids and that they relied on their children cycling or scooting to get to-and-fro.

Other said it was 'crazy' to outlaw cycling and scooting in the 'huge parklands' surrounding the castle, saying 'it would take 24-hours to walk round the grounds'.

Mum Lucy Peaper, speaking this week, said: 'Absolutely ridiculous - I for one and many of my friends won't be renewing our passes.

'How do you expect children who are too old for buggies to happily walk to the play park, which is at the furthest point?'

Mum-of-two Joanne Benson, 34, agreed saying: 'I've been going to Leeds castle for the past three years and my two boys love scooting around the grounds.

'We won't be going back - it's pointless, if we have to walk it will take 24 hours to get around the grounds.'

Children are now prohibited from wheeling around its 500-acre grounds, and some parents think this is unfair due to the 500-acre ground being taxing on young walkers

Facebook user Ashleigh May wrote on the castle's post this week: 'This is so ridiculous and unfair. How else are children meant to get around the huge grounds of the castle?

'And the fun that they have when scooting around the grounds is immeasurable. Clearly, the person who made this decision does not have children.'

Shelley Painting wrote: 'We love the castle & grounds and return time after time, year after year but I am really disappointed that scooters are no longer allowed in the grounds.

'Being able to bring the scooters is a godsend when you have small children with little legs. Please review this decision Leeds Castle.

A spokesman for the castle - built as a Norman stronghold in 1119, said: 'Leeds Castle has, with reluctance, taken the decision to no longer allow wheel-based toys, scooters and bikes into the grounds.

'Our roads and pathways are no longer able to cope with the traffic which the toys bring.

'Recent incidents and accidents involving scooters and bikes, as well the disturbance caused to others, means that such wheel-based toys, can no longer be accepted.

'Leeds Castle is immensely popular among families and we know that children will be disappointed not to be able to use their wheel-based toys in the grounds.

'The safety of all our visitors is, however, paramount and something that we would never compromise.

A spokesman for the castle, built as a Norman stronghold in 1119, said the decision was made with reluctance

'We take the point about the distance from the car parks to the playgrounds, but we have found that many children use the main drive to scoot or ride, which puts them in direct line with a very busy land train route.

'This, we feel, can no longer be allowed to continue as nothing is worth putting a child's safety at risk in this way. The alternative pathway routes are also unsuitable for the increased traffic throughout the year.

'Leeds Castle still welcomes families with younger children, and will continue to offer safe play areas, quality events and grounds for them to enjoy a family day out.

'Controlled 'Smart Trikes' for toddlers are still welcome throughout the year.'

Parents are also banned from taking buggies inside the castle because of 'space restrictions' - with parents able to get a 'free loan' of a baby sling during their visit.

The last private owner of the castle, the Honourable Olive, Lady Baillie, left the castle to the Leeds Castle Foundation, a private charitable trust - and it opened to the public in 1976.