Play ‘daisy chains’ instead, says Sefton council parks cut report

by
13th July 2016

Play ‘daisy chains’ instead, says Sefton council parks cut report

Sefton Council considering plans to close dozens of play parks has suggested children “make daisy chains” instead.

Sefton Council has proposed removing play equipment, fences, paths and bins in up to 140 parks in a new report.

It recommends making Sefton’s parks more “natural” in order to save money and suggests children make “dens, daisy chains” and “environmental art”.

The council needs to make savings of £64m after cutting £120m since 2010.

‘Safest service’

The Labour-run council says it is still discussing the plan and will put the final proposals out to public consultation after councillors have reassessed it in September.

The 28 “main” parks in the borough would undergo only minor changes.

But 140 smaller parks risk losing their play areas, bins, fences and litter picking services as well as “ornamental features” if there is “no community interest” shown in “taking on the sites”.

The proposal states that removing play areas means children “need to play differently” and suggests “making dens, daisy chains, creating environmental art from long grass and wildflowers… forest play with fallen twigs, leaves, fruit and seeds etc.”

Councillor Paulette Lappin, cabinet member for regulation and corporate resource, said she is unsure what people will think of the plans but wants to consider “all the different options”.

She said the council has to lose “an incredible amount of money” but needs to “provide the best and safest service”.

“We have to protect the elderly, the most vulnerable but we actually want to maintain our green spaces – they’re the jewels in our crown.”

 

Submit News Contact us with your community, business or sport news. Phone 07581350321

Email ots@otsnews.co.uk

Facebook www.facebook.com/Otsnews-Southport-1575528676012039/

Twitter  www.twitter.com/onthespot_news

Breaking local news as it happens, searchable archives with photographs, the ability to instantly comment on news articles – there are so many advantages to OTS (Onthespot) News.

If you want your news read locally online then send it to ots@otsnews.co.uk – relying only on the newspaper is to restrict yourself to an ever reducing audience.