Policy and Politics
Protests grow over cuts to play schemes
Campaigners have described the Government's decision to put a freeze on up to 1,500 play area schemes as a 'knee-jerk reaction to cost cutting' that could damage efforts to halt child obesity.
The Mayor of Poole opened one completed Playbuilder scheme in Newtown
Betty McBride, communications and policy director at the British Heart Foundation, said, 'When only one in ten youngsters get enough exercise, playgrounds can provide a cheap, fun and easy way for children to get active outdoors. It'll end up costing society more in the long run as we continue to fight against childhood obesity.'
The freeze to the £235m Playbuilder scheme was confirmed by education secretary Michael Gove in July. The DfE has written to every local authority to request the status of the 1,500 capital play projects that have not yet been completed. It will only allow those that are already under construction to be finished (News, 21 July).
The move has also been criticised by the Association of Play Industries (API), which accused the Government of being 'vague' and leaving projects in limbo.
Deborah Holt from the API said, 'The industry has geared up for this - UK manufacturers and distributors placed orders 12 months ago. All the public consultation takes at least six months, with lots of children involved in the design.'
Robert Jennings, joint chairman of Friends of Brook Green, a community and residents organisation in west London, told Nursery World that work had been due to start on a local playground in just a few weeks' time. He said, 'We had been working with the council to get a plan together that was agreed on by the whole community, and to implement it. The funding that was to come from the DfE has now been cut, so the project is on hold. We are disappointed but optimistic and we are still hoping that it will go ahead. There are a lot of children in the area and it is a very popular and important playground.'
Residents of Poole in Dorset have launched a campaign to save 11 Playbuilder schemes, costing £587,000, that have been put on hold. A group entitled Save Year 2 Playbuilder Schemes in Poole has been set up on Facebook.
