19 play areas to be axed in Perth and Kinross

Sep 13 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE closure of 19 play parks prompted a mother-of-two young children to hit out at the council decision.

Describing herself as a “just a normal mother”, Glenfarg’s Jenny Holt Brook fears the council is setting a “dangerous precedent”, not just for Perth and Kinross but also for other local authorities throughout Scotland.

“I think I would like to take this further, personally, because of the dangerous precedent it sets in terms of the potential for other local authorities to close and even sell off play park land to developers,” she said

“Play parks are needed more than ever by increasing numbers of children who otherwise have little or no access to the outdoors.”

She was also critical of the council’s lack of public consultation in the run-up to the committee meeting: “As a basis for making the decision to axe so many play parks, I believe the views of local elected members were insufficient.

“When did they last sit on a swing in the local play park after school, or hang out in a play park soothing a fractious toddler?

“It was fundamentally wrong for Perth and Kinross Council to make a decision to shut 19 play parks apparently without any evidence of taking in to account public views, let alone children’s views.

“Play parks are indispensable for the children and parents who use them, and it is not the council’s place to dispense of them.

“Moreover, it seems only a paltry amount would be saved by closing these parks – at immeasurable cost to local children now and in the long-term future.

“Surely this decision goes against Scottish Government policy which increasingly stresses the importance of opportunities for outdoor play for children.”