Closure-threatened play areas in Perth and Kinross have been thrown a last-minute lifeline thanks to parent power.
Almost 1,000 put their names to a petition demanding that the local council reconsider plans to demolish 19 children’s parks across the region, targeted in this year’s round of budget cuts.
Just last month, environment convener Alan Grant said the move would save more than £115,000 and insisted there would be no U-turn on the decision.
However, following a meeting with parks chiefs and concerned councillors, Mr Grant has now said he is happy to ”investigate viable options” to retain the sites in Perth, Aberfeldy, Birnam, Alyth, Crieff, Kinross and Fossoway.
The news has been welcomed by Perth City North councillor Callum Gillies, who believes removing play areas would be detrimental to children’s health and community spirit.
Council officers had said they had picked areas where there was ”overlapping provision” but residents hit back, saying there has been a lack of consultation.
Mr Gillies said he had been ”heartened” by the ”positive developments”, but reinforced that a lot of work still had to be done.
He said: ”I attended a meeting with Jim Valentine, deputy director of environmental services, and Andy Clegg, parks development manager, to try to find a way forward to stop the playpark closures in my ward.
”After much discussion, it was agreed that there would be further consultative meetings with local tenants’ and residents’ associations to examine further options and to determine if these would be sufficient to save the playparks, either partially or in full.
”Parent power has a lot to do with this development they have made sure the bosses sit up and listen.”
He added: ”We must not rob children of the right to have a play area in their locality where they are safe and their parents known where they are. On the one hand we are saying that kids need to get fresh air and on the other we are taking play areas away.”
Councillors were advised this year that the cost of keeping each playpark open was in region of £1,000 per annum but Mr Gillies highlighted the fact that, this year to date, the environment department had a projected underspend of around £700,000.
After the meeting, Mr Grant explained: ”During the budget process this year the administration had to deal with a very difficult financial situation. We took the view that we should try our best to make budget reductions over a broad range of subjects thus not having to make disproportionate cuts in any one service area.
”In this case we applied the standards which we now have for play area provision to identify those where there was significant overlap. In other words, if these housing areas were being built today many of the existing play areas would not be included.
”Thus we are clear that if the identified sites close the remaining provision meets both national and local standards.”
However, he conceded: ”That notwithstanding, if there are viable and sustainable options to retain the play areas identified for closure I am happy to investigate them.
”The only caveat is that, if an alternative funding arrangement, or volunteer effort, ceases in future, the council will not be able to afford to take these play areas back into its maintenance programme, hence they would be closed at that time.”
A determined community effort earlier this year saved Tayside Crescent park, Aberfeldy, from the axe for the second time. However it could only be a short stay of execution, as the future of the popular play area, previously targeted back in 2000, still depends on proposed work for a park nearby.