'Lazy' county council only provides 12 new play areas

2.12.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 9th Apr 2009

At today's cabinet meeting the bare minimum number of play sites were agreed to be supported by the county council. In a last minute decision only 12 play sites for children across Gloucestershire will be supported by the Tory run council this year.

The cabinet refused to support more play sites for children than the minimum required by Government. The cabinet has failed to meet the Government requirement to assess the need for more play sites for children around the county.

Cllr Jeremy Hilton, Liberal Democrat leader said: "The cabinet has taken a lazy attitude in bidding for government money to improve the play facilities for children in the county. Now just 12 play sites for children across the county will get improved facilities. Of course its good news for play sites which get support. But this was a golden opportunity to look at the provision of areas for children to play and coordinate a plan with local districts. There are many areas across Gloucestershire which need new and improved play facilities - the cabinet has missed the boat"

In December last year the Tory council failed to secure more money from the Government in a bid for "pathfinder" status. The council has not reviewed the county-wide need for more children's play sites. The council has failed to review play sites for children which need improvements. Each district council has been left to do the work on new play sites without any support from the county council. The minimum number of play sites the Department for Children and Families requires the county council to achieve is 22. The Tory council have refused to support more over the next two years.

Cllr Deryck Nash, Liberal Democrat Deputy leader said: "The failure of the cabinet to talk to local councillors, the failure to look at the need for new and improved play sites across the county has left many areas missing out on new play sites for children. There are many play areas which need improvement. Until now the district and parish councils have worked on this problem. For months the Tory cabinet at the county council has been ignoring this opportunity to improve play facilities across Gloucestershire. Town and Parish councillors are the experts on this issue yet the Tory cabinet at Shire Hall have ignored local communities."

Notes to editors:

1. Ttwelve play sites have been promised up to £50,000 each this year but specific funding has not been decided.

2. The Playbuilder project is a national project which the County Council was awarded £1.13million to support play sites in the county.

3. The county council failed in its bid last year to achieve "pathfinder" status which included extra funding

4. The play sites the cabinet decision supported today are:

Name of Site District

Agg Gardner Rec Cheltenham Cheltenham Borough

Springfield Park Cheltenham Cheltenham Borough

Andoversford Cotswold Parish Council

Lechlade Cotswold Parish Council

Bowson's Square Bream Forest of Dean Parish Council?

Ruardean Forest of Dean Parish Council/Memorial Hall Committee

Milton Avenue Podsmead Gloucester Gloucester City

Elmbridge Gloucester Gloucester City?

Cam Woodfields Stroud Stroud District Council

Norton Wood Stroud Stroud District Council

Gotherington Tewkesbury Gotherington Parish Council

Tewkesbury Town Tewkesbury Tewkesbury Town Council

ENDS...