Playground 'post code lottery'

The council will now provide up to £500 a year running costs

Children in Pembrokeshire face a 'post code lottery' over whether they live near a playground despite changes to council policy, it is claimed.

For two years the authority has not replaced old or damaged equipment and has encouraged local groups to take on responsibility to run them instead.

A number of playgrounds have closed so now the council will cover insurance and contribute towards maintenance.

But Councillor Sue Perkins claims the changes are not enough.

We grew up with play - it was free and it was safe. The children of Pembrokeshire are not having this Councillor Sue Perkins

She wants to see the council take back ownership of all playgrounds in the county.

The council's cabinet says playgrounds are drain on the budget and offers grants of up to £20,000 for residents' associations or community councils to take them over.

It also says such groups can qualify for matched funding from government or European schemes that it would not qualify to receive.

The policy change means it will also pay for insurance and contribute up to £500 a year for repairs.

Pembrokeshire Council leader Maurice Hughes said: "There's no statutory responsibility on any county council to provide play equipment.

"The Welsh assembly or central government do not provide (councils with) funds for playgrounds or play equipment.

"It's a lot of money when you think that you have 80 community councils in Pembrokeshire and some of the town council's have as many as seven play grounds in their area.

"The way to access funds for replacements is by drawing down grants from various bodies.

"The county council can't do that but community councils can."

But Ms Perkins, who was involved in the unsuccessful campaign to save the play area on the Bush Estate at Pembroke Dock which closed just after Christmas, is unconvinced.

She said some communities would have the volunteers and expertise to run their own playgrounds but said others would not.

"I think it's very frightening for some communities to take this on," she said.

"It will create a postcode lottery on play areas depending where people live.

"I fully understand it's not a statutory duty but surely the county council has a moral obligation to our children.

"We grew up with play - it was free and it was safe. The children of Pembrokeshire are not having this."