@ Stef 4
Oh dearie me, clearly some frustration spilling over here.
You are of course right that I - or anyone else for that matter - does not HAVE to use the facility and can CHOOSE to do something else entirely. My personal choice would be to not go there and instead spend the time with my kids myself. It is my good fortune not to live in Watford or anywhere near it and so thankfully I won't have to (not) trouble myself with choosing whether or not to use these no doubt marvellous play facilities.
Do I park in disabled spaces? No, my father is disabled so I have personal experience of their necessity and the inconsiderate f*ckwits who don't give a toss...
Do I send my kids to school? You betcha - all 5 of them so I believe I know a thing or two about leaving them under the supervision of suitably qualified and experienced individuals. And guess what? I'm happy to let them get on with it. I even get a pathetic degree of gratitude from said schools when my child breaks the rules or misbehaves and I back whatever punishment or sanction they want to mete out because sadly they are far more used to parents threatening and intimidating them.
I'm all in favour of rules and all in favour of following them. I'm also in favour of highlighting when rules are obtuse, unnecessary or just plain ridiculous. And finally I'm in favour of choosing not to engage with any facility, service or organisation whose rules I don't agree with rather than just breaking the rules.
There, that's my frustration aired now.