Playpark consultation given the green light

Tough decisions have to be made over future of Fife parks warns councillor

More than 80% of Fife’s playparks need to be replaced in the next decade and some are “no longer viable”, a senior councillor says.

Fife Council’s community and housing services committee agreed to press ahead with plans to consult communities on which playparks should be kept and maintained and which should be removed.

A total of 172 of the council’s 449 sites are under threat.

Alice McGarry, SNP councillor for Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, said: “People have to realise that the council no longer has the budget for these playparks.

“At the end of the day a decision has to be made and we have to take these tough decisions.

“Some playparks are no longer viable.”

Among the sites likely to be considered for removal are those with three or fewer pieces of play equipment, which the council said were of “limited” play value.

Under the strategy, larger playparks catering for a wider range of children than just preschoolers would be built.

In the meantime, Fife Council has made £3.5 million available across all its area committees for refurbishing existing playparks.

Paul Vaughan, head of the council’s communities and neighbourhoods service, said no decisions had been taken and the forthcoming consultation would determine which playparks were kept.

However, budgets for retaining and maintaining Fife’s playparks were said to be “limited”.

He added: “We want to ensure that public and green space is providing opportunities for outdoor play and recreation, and be in a position where we have financial sustainability for playparks.”

The council drew up a “hierarchy” of three play areas that would be maintained throughout Fife.

The word “hierarchy” will be changed to “category” for the purposes of the consultation under the suggestion of Labour councillor Neil Crooks.

Mr Crooks said: “The term hierarchy suggests that some are more important than others.”

The smallest facilities would be neighbourhood play areas a five-minute walk from people’s homes.

Also prioritised would be town play areas and destination play areas, such as those in Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy, and Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline.

Conservative councillor Linda Holt said: “This seems to represent a kind of decimation of playparks in Fife.

“People will be really unhappy about how drastic these cuts are.”

People have to realise that the council no longer has the budget for these playparks. COUNCILLOR ALICE MCGARRY