A long-running community-funded campaign to completely revamp a playground may not receive any monetary support from Redbridge council after it refused to commit to dipping its hands into its pockets last night.

The discussion took place yesterday evening (September 29) at Redbridge council's local forum at Wanstead House Community Centre, in The Green, Wanstead.

Wanstead Playground Association has so far raised £57,000, with an extra £10,000 already pledged, to the playground in Christ Church Green.

There are also campaigns to refurbish Churchfields playground in South Woodford and build a new facility in Aldersbrook.

And yesterday, Chair Sarah Boud asked if the council would offer some of their own cash to the campaign, which is targeting a total of around £100,000 to completely rebuild the playground next year.

She said: “Altogether we have raised £30,000 through crowdfunding of Wanstead residents and businesses.

"They should not be expected to give any more money and we need support from the council.

“Goodmayes Park may be awarded £400,000 by you and there is money being spent in other parts of the borough.

“There are raising levels of obesity in children so I think it is a travesty that playgrounds are not being maintained properly.

“Waltham Forest fund and maintain their play areas to a high standard but you don't see that here.”

In response, deputy leader of Redbridge council, councillor Elaine Norman, pointed out that Waltham Forest was an Olympic borough with a legacy fund to spend on parks and playground facilities.

She said: “Redbridge is in a different position to Waltham Forest as it is not an Olympic legacy borough so we do not get the same level of funding.

“I am not in a position tonight to just say yes now, to dip our hands into our pockets and find money, but we will be looking positively at all possibilities for finding funding.

“We are committed to do everything we can and the council is currently looking at getting a Green Flag accreditation for Christ Church Green.

“The council fully appreciates the efforts of the charity in raising funds.”

For more information visit the charity’s website at www.wansteadplayground.co.uk