Sponsored by
Playground cash on hold for eight sites
EIGHT proposed community playgrounds across Peterborough could be axed or scaled back after the Government announced funding cuts.
Peterborough City Council has been told to freeze all of its plans to upgrade old or build new playgrounds under the Playbuilder scheme.
The council would not confirm where seven of the affected playgrounds were.
But it has a just signed a contract for equipment to revamp the Bluebell Avenue play area before September and now faces a tense two-week wait to see if it will still receive the £50,000 grant.
The blow was delivered yesterday when education secretary Michael Gove said he had frozen Playbuilder grants to 132 councils across the country.
Frazer Chapman, the council’s recreation manager, said: “This is the third year of the project and to date the council has improved 15 play areas across Peterborough with the Government giving us around £50,000 for each area.
“We have been instructed not to commence any new works in respect to the eight schemes that were planned for this year but no final decision has yet been relayed to the council to say funding will not be provided.
“We are currently in discussions with the relevant Government department in respect of funding for the Bluebell Avenue play area, as a contract has already been signed and equipment purchased under the Playbuilder scheme.”
Cabinet member for children’s services councillor Sheila Scott said the news was “very disappointing” and she would meet officers to do what they could to save the schemes before a decision is made by the end of August.
She said: “I will be doing everything I can to get the appropriate people to change their minds about this funding.
“We know these are very difficult financial times but children are our future and we need to protect that.”
As part of the Playbuilder scheme, the council has identified areas that need improving in the city and worked closely with local youngsters to decide on the equipment most suitable for each area.
The last park to benefit from the funding was Peanut Park, in Riseholme, Orton Goldhay, which was opened in April and was a joint venture with Cross Keys Homes, who had also stumped up £50,000 to fund it.
Sales and marketing manager Hayley Roan said the news was a “real shame” as the park had made a tremendous difference to the area’s children.
She said: “I am really disappointed to hear it as Peanut Park has really brought the community together as they had so much involvement in the design.”
Werrington Neighbourhood Council chairman David Hedges said their park in Larks Green in Werrington had slashed anti-social behaviour in the area.
He said: “It’s very unfortunate news as the scheme’s concept is about giving children a natural environment to play in.
“Cuts need to be made but it has made a real difference to our area and it is a pity if it’s one of the last.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 16 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
Holly Golightly
Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 05:09 PMVoice of No Arse; You are right some do. Well at least the holocaust did not take place actual in Germany, but in the countries outside. Russia was the main perpetrator. I can't believe silly people here still think there was actually money to pay for all these things Labour promised. Are English people stupid or something. Nor do they have any idea of the scale of the problem. Well I hope the Sun newspaper do a one page easy guide to help them understand. It could simply be a picture of a Fridge with the word ‘Full written one. Then the next picture would show an open and empty fridge, with an empty purse on top. Perhaps that would get the message across.
A local chap
Friday, August 13, 2010 at 10:46 PMHolly - there are still people who deny the Holocaust. You will always get a few who will say Black is White whatever the evidence lol
Holly Golightly
Friday, August 13, 2010 at 10:27 AMI am surprised by the strength of feeling in ‘Postie Supporter’ comment. Obviously someone with nothing to do, and is bitter due to the failure of the New Labour Government. I don’t think the recession will be deep and last 20 years, Germany today announced 2.3 percent increase in growth and France a somewhat smaller growth. The coalition just needs to reverse a lot of the Labour spending policies and we will be over this in a few years. The main problem is the numbers of people put into useless employment by New Labour, and who jobs really do not exist. Do you keep them doing such jobs or encourage them to do something worth while? Of course Government money only comes from those in the private section ,so unfortunately the public section must shrink to a size that can be afforded.
Postie Supporter
Friday, August 13, 2010 at 01:00 AMHolly Golightly and the other mindless moronic idiots who blame the previous Government for so called excessive spending and lack of control you are completely wrong and are just following the cheap political points of the totally out of touch and incompetent Tories and Lib Dems like complete and utter sheep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes the previous Government made mistakes and said at the election that cuts in spending needed to be made. But not to the level that has been announced and I suspect with worse to come, which will send the Country into a very deep recession which could take 10-20 years for the country to recover from. Has history not taught you anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh sorry I forgot you are nothing but sheep with no brain. Enough said.
Holly Golightly
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 09:06 PMThank you for supporting my views. At last some people who see it my way. I only say it as I see it. Does not good to pretend the problem is not there.
Zanni
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 08:57 PMPlaygrounds will be the least peoples problem's over the next few years. Government cuts have hardly started taking effect yet. As Holly says Labour have left a legacy of debt thats going to last for generations. Interest rates on the debt currently cost £30.9 billion per year and would have risen to £67.2 billion in 2014–15 if the deficit hadn't been cut, that would have mean't that 10p in every pound of tax would have just gone on the interest...
A local chap
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 05:59 PMI think Holly has a better understanding than Alex! And Dalek - are we there yet? No. That scratches the surface. James - where are these parks? The ones my kids use all have fencing and no dog mess.
DAN JACKSON
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 05:32 PMHolly, spot on. Labour spend money that never existed and commit to spending billions that is borrowed on schemes such as this. Now we all suffer so blame Labour, the money was never there.
Dalek Sec
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 05:29 PMHolly, everybody's job is important - it pays their bills and provides for their family - not a single job that brings in a wage is unimportant! There are many other sountries not "doing fine", it's not a party political problem but a problem with all politicians full stop!
Holly Golightly
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 03:03 PMAlex le darge; Sounds to me that you do not understand simple economics. Labour gave all the money away, now there is none left. They employed lots of useless people doing useless job, who now think their job is important when it is not. The Banking Bail Out occurred because Labour did not have any control over the banks, and printing money is what you always have whilst Labour is in power. Germany is doing fine and so is France. But they did not have a load of Scottish Nutters running the place. Now you all suffer! Remember now there is a coalition in control which is the best solution for all.
James_Werrington
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 02:58 PMThe playparks ARE very important. In the past;if they had been in better condition and kept free from teenagers at night maybe people wouldn't have felt the need to get their own. They've come a long way and the improvements that have been made are very welcome. It's madness that a fraction of the money spent all the stupid home trampolines could have provided even better facilities. The problem of dogs should also not be underestimated. I believe the fact there's dogs running wild off the lead and mess everywhere also makes it more attractive for kids to play at home which is a massive failure of the council to protect family access to the facilities we pay for.
Alex de Large
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 02:47 PMIt's 80s allover again The poor,young , and lame will be the one who suffer Anyway the ConLib pact will be dead soon
Alex de Large
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 02:44 PMHolly Holly Holly It sounds as if you dont understand how the situation we are now in came about Yes Labour did spend the money but that is a over simplification of the matter. When labour did the Bank Bail Out the Conservatives wanted more money pumping in ! So we would have been in a far worse position than we are now And if we have to clear the debt then lets put a special tax band in for Banks etc But as nothing has happened at the moment except talk I think the government is trying to ride the waves in the hope it will all turn round and nothing will need tpo be done !
Holly Golightly
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 02:02 PMDaleseck; I will not shut up. I am right. Remember is was the labour Government that spend all the money, and has taken out lots of loans which stretch into the future a long way. There is no money left, and our Government have to be responsible. You have seen nothing yet, I promise you…just you wait….it will be good.
Dalek Sec
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 01:35 PMOh shut up Holly. This is a disgrace - death by a thousand cuts anyone? If we're that skint, end the pointless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (creating more terrorism, not sorting it out) - NOW, get rid of Trident (unnecessary in today's climate) and cut MP'sMinister's pay by £10k a year - then get rid of ALL expenses for MPs and councillors - we nearly there yet?
Page 1 of 2
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.