Popular Hemel play park looks forward to welcoming customers back as date announced for when soft play could re-open

The owner of a soft play business, with centres in Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted, has welcomed the PM's latest announcement, but was disappointed that the date was not earlier.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the government’s roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions in England on Monday.

Each step to be assessed against four tests before restrictions ease, starting with the return of schools on 8 March.

The roadmap revealed that children's indoor play centres can reopen on Monday, May 17 - at the earliest.

Helen Whittington, who owns DJ's Play Park in Jarman Park with her husband Mark, was pleased with the news but was disappointed that it was not earlier.

The couple also run DJ’s Play Zone in Berkhamsted and DJ's Play Jungle in St Albans.

She said: "We are pleased to get a mention in the Government road map as children’s indoor play centres can reopen from Monday May 17th - yet we are still disappointed not to be allowed to open with schools returning and gyms reopening sooner.

"Our customers are keen to come back for children’s exercise and their mental health - it’s a safe space and great to socialise (if at a reduced capacity and social distance).

"Due to being excluded from previous grants, we fought to get the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) to include Indoor Soft Play, which was added to the criteria for Dacorum (based on number of Employees and Fixed Property costs).

"We were then awarded the one off £10,000 support for the business, but this time refused for our second Berkhamsted site - which costs rent of £5,000 per month!

"It seems wrong to apply, qualify and be rejected - DJ’s Play would count if we had a separate company for our second site or if it were in a different council - St Albans was eligible as one of our 3 sites.

"Dacorum’s reply was we have the maximum, however confirmed that no maximum ARG is published by the government or on Dacorum Borough Council website.

"Many industries have managed to trade well throughout - whereas Indoor Play has been one of the severely impacted sectors.

"Despite the lack of support, we want to continue to offer a great facility for the community and have taken a loan to ensure we survive the period of loss.

"DJ’s will come through this and hopefully win an award, to welcome our local staff and customers back."

A spokesperson for Dacorum Borough Council said: "Over the months we have been working closely and supporting the owner of DJ’s Play.

"We want local businesses to thrive and have been investing in our high streets and to date, during the pandemic we have administered over £35m in grant funding to over 3,000 local businesses."

DJ's Play Park has been named a finalist in Little Ankle Biters Best Children's Soft Play in Hertfordshire category.

The Best Children’s soft play centre award will recognise best practice and safety standards as well as fun, entertainment and how they have supported families over the last year in Hertfordshire

Voting closes on Sunday, February 28, to vote for DJ's Play Park, click here.