Coalition government freeze funding for 11 Westminster playgrounds

Published: 27 August, 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

CHILDREN across Westminster face losing out after the coalition government froze funding for 11 playgrounds.

Education Secretary Michael Gove ordered an immediate halt to the Playbuilder scheme started under the Labour government, saying: “Play has to make its contribution to tackling the deficit along with other important programmes.”

Playgrounds where contracts have been signed off are safe, but children in Pimlico, Lisson Grove and Westbourne Park are set to suffer.

Westminster Council was given £600,000 by the Department for Education to build 22 playgrounds under the scheme.

The 11 that have been put on hold are: St John’s Wood churchyard, Lisson Community Gardens, St Mary’s Churchyard, Victoria Tower Gardens, Hyde Park South Carriage Drive, Pimlico Gardens, Churchill Gardens Estate, Lisson Green Playful Route, Elmfield Way, Westway, Avenue Gardens Estate.

Opposition leaders in Westminster say the cuts threaten the “future of our next generation” and have called on the council to find the money from elsewhere.

City Hall education chief Nickie Aiken said: “We know how much outdoor play areas are valued by children and parents and we have been pleased to provide a number of fantastic new playgrounds in the last year.

“While it is disappointing that we have potentially lost this funding, we will continue to do all we can to provide the best possible facilities for families.

“In Westminster we have the cleanest, safest and best maintained parks in the capital, which I would encourage all families to take advantage of.

“Only a bus ride or a short walk away for many families are also the fantastic Royal Parks, which boast several playgrounds, and facilities for skating, cycling and tennis among other activities.

“In the present financial climate the current levels of spending are simply unsustainable.”

Last month the Department for Education wrote to all local authorities saying: “With immediate effect and until further notice, all of these local authorities should avoid incurring any new contractual liabilities in relation to their play capital grants.”

It added: “The department will cover the cost of expenditure already incurred for completed sites and sites where groundworks/construction has already commenced. However, we will need to review contractual commitments already entered into in relation to sites where groundworks/construction have not yet commenced.”

Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group, said: “Children in Westminster are bearing the brunt of the Conservative cuts. Real damage is being done to the future of our next generation by this incompetent and foolish council.”