MP joins parents' play area demo

Parents claim there is nowhere for their children to play locally

A group of parents gathered on a common in Southampton to highlight their four-year campaign for a play area.

Southampton Itchen MP, John Denham, joined the Freemantle Common Play Association on Friday.

The city council removed a previous set of play equipment on safety grounds. A spokesman said the authority only had cash to maintain existing sites.

But he added the common "was now one of 31 sites being considered for the government's Play Builder's Scheme".

There's really nowhere for children to play locally Cathy Stevens Freemantle Play Association

"We have recently been given funding from the government to spend on improving play opportunities," the spokesman said.

"There has literally not been any money in the pot.

"So we have assisted residents to set up their own local groups, like Freemantle Play Association, to raise funds."

Cathy Stevens, founder of the Freemantle Common Play Association, has been campaigning since 2003.

"We are hoping that the money that the government has given to Southampton City Council to build play areas in Southampton will be going to build a new play area on Freemantle Common," she said.

"There's really nowhere for children to play locally.

"At the moment the common is only used by dog walkers and I think it is a waste of a lovely area which the children could be enjoying."

Mr Denham MP said: "Cathy first got in touch with me in 2006 about the need for a play area.

"I was able to help her group get some funding, [but] since then there doesn't seem to have been much progress within the council."