Fairer funding call for green spaces in region

‘ Imbalance’ heavily favours London

PARKS AND similar green spaces in London have received significantly more lottery funding than anywhere else in the UK over the last decade, figures reveal, while Yorkshire has received some of the least amount in spending.

Politicians and campaigners are calling for urgent action to “redress this imbalance” and ensure everyone has access to quality outdoor places.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund handed out £ 406m for parks and similar green spaces across the UK in the decade to 2019- 20, according to figures obtained by the Press Association news agency under the Freedom of Information Act.

The data includes funding for public parks and squares, cemeteries and pay- to- enter gardens.

Councils and other organisations can apply for the money to help pay for projects in their area.

Parks and green spaces in London or projects directly linked to them received £ 107m over the period – a quarter of the funding. This is equivalent to £ 11.94 per head of the capital’s population, based on Office for National Statistics population estimates – by far the most of 12 UK regions and nations. It was followed by Scotland, at £ 6.81 per head, and the West Midlands (£ 6.56).

The three regions to get the least per person were Yorkshire and the Humber (£ 4.35), the South West (£ 4.30), and the East

Midlands (£ 4.12). The others were the North East (£ 6.35), Wales (£ 5.25), the South East (£ 5.08), the East of England (£ 5.07), the North West (£ 4.76) and Northern Ireland (£ 4.38).

The NLHF said the figures represent a “narrow view” of the work it funds as they do not include other grants for naturebased projects such as conservation programmes, nature and science projects, and large- scale landscape conservation work.

But York Central MP Rachael Maskell, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Voluntary Sector and Charities, said the differences in funding were stark and called for steps to “redress this imbalance”.

“Action must be taken to ensure that everyone has access to safe, green spaces and parks,” she said. “Unless there is a clear framework as to the distribution of funding then it will not be shared evenly.”

Of 382 local authority areas across the UK, no lottery grant funding was recorded for 158.

The NLHF said it was possible parts of some projects were in those places, but the spend logged elsewhere.

Ben Cooper, a researcher at the left- wing think tank the Fabian Society, said the current funding system for parks was not working, with some areas missing out.

“We need both equitable National Lottery funding and proper funding for local government to improve green spaces for all communities.

“If the Government’s levelling up agenda is serious, they will make it a priority.”

A government spokesman said all NLHF funding decisions are taken independent of government, and that it was committed to ensuring funding is shared with those who need it most.

Action must be taken to ensure everyone has access to green spaces. Rachael Maskell, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Voluntary Sector and Charities.