The post you are reporting:
No play area is closing Howard.
I think it is difficult to explain why play areas have been in the state they are in, with out making a political statement.
In 2003, shortly after May, all play areas around the District were assessed and some like Clarendon were found to have had no investment in the previous ten years or so and the equipment had become unsafe - on health and safety grounds. and so the equipment was taken away.
Since then there has been an assessment and consultation about play areas and a number of sites were designated "strategic" play areas and were/are to have new equipment and safety matting - there's also new ideas about what constitutes a play area and what equipment youngsters now like to play on - we all know how strong it has to be with all the abuse that young teenagers put on the new equipment in Pencester and it is very, very expensive.
Any local authority can only raise money through council tax and their prime responsibility is to balance the books, maintain or improve services and fullfil their statutory responsibilities and obligations.
District Council taxes are capped, usually around 5%, so what money does come in has to be carefully and responsibly looked after.
If there isn't spare cash to spend on play areas, what should suffer in its place ? What service that is currently provided for, should be done away with to pay for new equipment in all play areas ?
Money is always being applied for from somewhere or other Sports Council, Lottery etc.), some we win, some we don't, I am not a Cabinet Member so don't know all the ins and outs of this, but in the main that's how it is.
If that is political, then I'm sorry, it's the best I can do.
Roger
