Victory for MoS with new pocket parks deal

THOUSANDS of people are to enjoy a new generation of green spaces in towns and cities in another victory for The Mail on Sunday’s Save Our Parks campaign.

Ministers unveiled plans yesterday to help create more ‘Pocket Parks’ by reviving run-down green areas and transforming neglected or derelict urban spaces.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick invited community groups to bid for new funding for projects as he commended this newspaper’s campaign which has called on the Government to invest in green spaces after years of cutbacks.

Mr Jenrick opened the bidding for the latest phase of the Pocket Parks programme, which is designed to help support communities to revive unloved or run-down urban spaces and turn them into new green spaces.

A total of £1.35 million is being made available for new parks or ‘re-imagined’ areas that could provide everything from children’s play areas to vegetable patches, or hold community events.

Hailing the crucial role parks and green spaces play at the heart of communities, the Communities Secretary said: ‘This Government is determined to protect our nation’s parks for future generations to enjoy. I commend The Mail on Sunday for the active role they continue to play in championing this nation’s parks and green spaces.’

Under the scheme, individual bids – to be led by community groups in partnership with local authorities – can receive up to £15,000 each to develop new parks while up to £25,000 is available for plans to refurbish existing parks.

We revealed last year how playgrounds were being closed at the rate of nearly two a week as they fell victim to neglect, vandalism and property developers.

Earlier this year, our campaign scored a double victory after two l ocal authorities i n Essex and Devon scrapped their plans to axe green spaces.