Nottingham City Council is yet to confirm which and how many play areas will be closed but attributes the move to financial losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The API is calling for a specific funding stream for outdoor play and fitness facilities to stop this from happening in more areas but states that the Government response is that the funding already provided to local authorities is ‘sufficient for them to determine the best local provision’.
The play sector trade body warns that there will be a negative impact on children’s mental and physical health if play areas continue to ‘disappear’ and the cost to society will be ‘significant’. Billions of pounds have been committed by the Government during the crisis to support the economy and the API argue that, in comparison, the amount required to reverse the decline in public play provision is minimal.
API chair Mark Hardy said, ‘Children have got out of the habit of being active during lockdown, physical activity is vitally important to our society.
‘Active children become active adults and without a fit and healthy society we are less able to cope with future viruses and of course the cost of obesity to the public purse is well understood. The relatively small cost of providing specific funding pales into insignificance compared to the health benefits.’
Nottingham City Council anticipate that the pandemic will have cost it around £90m and, so far, has received £20m from the Government leaving a large deficit.
Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council, said, ‘Last week we were forced to announce further proposals to save the authority another £12.5m and part of this includes a small number of play area closures. We will be looking at those which are currently underused or facing significant investment – the overwhelming majority of our play areas will remain open.
‘We have wider plans to invest close to £1 million of Section 106 funding – provided by developers for community use through planning permissions – in Nottingham over the coming months. There are a raft of parks and green spaces which will benefit from this.’
He added that Nottingham City Council has opened 87 new playgrounds since 2010 and there is a manifesto commitment to maintain 100 play areas in the city.