SEN friendly soft play closes following council planning dispute
Worksop families are supporting the owners of a soft play centre that has been forced to close, in their bid to get it re-opened.
The soft play centre on Stadium Close in Worksop, that is an SEN friendly space for local families, has been caught up in a planning dispute with Bassetlaw District Council.
Playtastic, run by local couple Sarah and Jason Gascoigne, had to close following issues surrounding the authorised use of its commercial unit.
The closure has sparked frustration among users, who have supported a petition calling for the centre to be allowed to reopen.
Sarah and Jason say they have invested significant time and money to transform the unit into a safe, welcoming environment for children and families.
The venue was designed to provide an inclusive environment for children of different needs, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Sarah said: “We created Playtastic because we wanted somewhere families could come and their children could just enjoy being children.
“We’ve had families with SEN children tell us how important having somewhere suitable and welcoming is to them. That makes being closed even more heartbreaking because this isn’t just about us losing a business. There are families who have lost somewhere they genuinely valued.”
At the centre of the dispute is planning use of the building.
Jason said: “If there are concerns that need addressing, we are prepared to work with the council. What we want is a sensible route forward that gets us back open legally and safely.
“We aren't asking for special treatment. We’re asking for somebody to work with us and look at what can actually be done to make this work.”
The situation has prompted wider questions about how councils balance planning policy with supporting independent businesses and community facilities.
Supporters argue that if concerns exist around matters such as parking, highways, operating hours or capacity, they should explore whether those issues can reasonably be addressed through planning conditions or changes to how the business operates.
One supporter said: “Nobody is saying planning rules shouldn’t exist. The question is whether every reasonable option has been explored before the end result becomes shutting the doors.
“This is a business that has invested money, created jobs and provided something for children in the area.
"If there is a way of making it compliant, surely everybody should be around a table trying to achieve that.”
The SEN friendly aspect of Playtastic has become particularly important to families supporting the campaign.
Sarah added: “The support has been overwhelming. People aren't just supporting Jason and me. They want Playtastic back because their children loved coming here.
“We just want the opportunity to reopen and carry on providing something positive for Worksop.”
The petition is attracting support from residents calling for Bassetlaw District Council and Playtastic to find a solution.
Jason added: “We want to work with the council, not fight against them.
“Sit down with us, tell us what realistically needs to happen and let's find a way forward.
"Seeing everything sitting here unused when families want us open is devastating.”
A spokesperson for Bassetlaw District Council said: “In order to trade, Playtastic must first have planning permission in place.
"This is the same process that applies to hundreds of businesses that submit a change of use application in Bassetlaw each year and ensures that all businesses can operate safely and legally.
“Playtastic’s initial planning application was refused in April 2026 due to a number of concerns, including insufficient parking on site. However, Playtastic continued to trade after this date against the Council’s advice.
“Following contact by the Council’s Planning Enforcement Team in May 2026, the Council provided Playtastic with an opportunity to resubmit their planning application within 28 days.
“This application was not received by the Council within the timescales set out and, as Playtastic continued to trade up to the beginning of August 2026, the Council was left with no other option than to begin formal enforcement against the business.
“An appeal against the original planning application refusal has now been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate, and the Council will await it’s decision before it can comment further.”