The Scottish Government has been urged to review play facilities in Perth and Kinross, and across the country, in a bid to address childhood obesity.
There has been significant investment across the region in a number of major playpark projects, including those on Perth’s North and South Inches.
Many other facilities have also been upgraded but, elsewhere, a review of community facilities has led to a series of unpopular cuts.
Playpark equipment has gradually been removed from a number of areas as part of a cost-cutting exercise enforced by budget constraints and a reduction in funding.
Other playparks, promised as part of the building of new housing developments, have simply failed to materialise.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith believes that the reduction in facilities cannot be allowed to continue and is asking the SNP ministers to undertake a review.
Ms Smith, the Scottish Conservative shadow young people’s minister, told The Courier: “It is clear that the provision of good-quality play facilities across Scotland is very mixed.
“Perth and Kinross Council has a positive record in investing in many local playparks. There is, however, clearly always room for improvement and the loss of some smaller facilities has impacted on communities.
“We have, in some cases, the loss of smaller play facilities, and often this has resulted in parents having to travel further.”
Ms Smith said that, nationally, there have been a number of cases where large, new housing schemes have not seen the construction of the facilities that were originally planned and promised, while parents have often reported that the play facilities near to where they live were not acceptable.
“I would like to see a review of play facilities across Scotland to see what level of investment is needed and also to look at what has been promised and not delivered,” the MSP added.
“Addressing the obesity problem we are seeing needs real changes and part of this is providing the facilities for parents to take young children to so they can play and interact with other children.
“I also believe it can help build stronger communities, with families coming together.”