Obesity warning as councils shut 210 playgrounds in just two years

... and at least 230 more face same fate

MORE than 200 public playgrounds have closed across the country in the last two years and even more are set for the chop, a study has revealed.

Councils shut 214 play parks between 2014 and 2016, with a further 234 scheduled to close in the near future.

Town hall leaders say they have no choice but to stop families using them because of a lack of Whitehall funding for repairs and upkeep of equipment such as roundabouts and swings.

The research, by the Association of Play Industries (API), comes amid a child obesity epidemic which experts blame on a lack of exercise. Around a third of children are obese or overweight, as are more than two thirds of adults.

Mark Hardy, chairman of the API said: ‘With increasing childhood obesity and the health benefits of activity and play well known, now is not the time for community playgrounds to be closing. This action goes against the Government’s clear intention to get children more active and needs to be stopped as quickly as possible.’

The report, called Nowhere to Play, says that local authorities have seen a reduction in central funding for playgrounds since the financial crisis.

Many play areas which are closed are left ‘ dormant’, with councils waiting for funding to be made available, while others disappear completely.

The API said a £100million cash injection could reverse the decline and increase the playgrounds available to children.

Mr Hardy added: ‘ We know money is tight for councils, but we can’t just stand by and watch as playgrounds close. We are calling on the Government to halt this decline and invest in the next wave of playgrounds to ensure our children have access to free play and activity.’

The API, which is a trade association, sent Freedom of Information Act requests to all councils in

‘We can’t just stand by and watch’

England and found 112 playgrounds closed in the year 201415, while in 2015-16 102 shut.

The request also asked for future plans to close playgrounds and revealed 234 are scheduled to go by spring 2019. The true figure is believed to be higher, as more than a third of councils questioned had yet to make plans.

Helen Griffiths, of the charity Fields in Trust, said: ‘Play is the first step children take towards physical literacy and an active lifestyle and therefore investing in play spaces and securing their future should be a priority in combating the negative health impacts of a sedentary population.’

Julian Knight, the Tory MP for Solihull, added: ‘This report highlights a deeply concerning trend away from playgrounds. I think it would be most helpful if the likes of the Big Lottery fund could be persuaded to look again at projects which promote children’s play.’

Lord Porter, of the Local Govern- ment Association, said: ‘Decisions like this are never taken lightly and councils are exploring new ways to fund and maintain these facilities. Many are also working with their communities to help maintain them, or through crowdfunding for new equipment.’

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: ‘Our four-year funding settlement means councils have almost £200billion to spend over this Parliament – allowing them to prioritise the services that communities and local people value.

‘This includes a £1.5million fund to create 87 pocket parks across the country, giving urban areas access to more green space.’