WALTHAM FOREST: £1.1M boost for borough's playgrounds (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: £1.1M boost for borough's playgrounds

9:10am Thursday 11th December 2008

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THE council has been given £1.1 million from the Government to be spent on building new playgrounds across Waltham Forest next year.

The money is part of a nationwide £235 million investment being made to transform children's play areas across Britain.

The cash has been welcomed by Leyton MP Harry Cohen.

He said: "I am delighted that my campaigning for this bid has paid off. This is great news for Waltham Forest. It will mean we can develop and rebuild children's play areas across our community - benefiting thousands of children and families in our area.

"And I'm pleased that the Government has decided to bring forward this funding, so that we can get better facilities available to children sooner, and support the economy at the same time.

"I want to make sure the local community is fully involved in deciding how and where this funding should be spent. That's why I want to hear the views of local parents on which play areas should be rebuilt or where there is a need for new play facilities.

"Play is vital to help children have fun, but it can also keep them happy and healthy and allow them to develop and explore the world. This funding will help to ensure all children have somewhere safe, stimulating and exciting to play outdoors."

Two weeks ago, the Guardian visited three playgrounds in Walthamstow to check out the state of the facilities.

Beer cans, plastic bags and other litter could be seen in the hedges surrounding the playground in Stoneydown Park and the park benches were covered in graffiti.

The matting in the under sevens play area was covered in grubby warn black patches, and safety mats under the swings had been peeled back, presumably by vandals, creating a health and safety risk.

Childminder Sonia Kleinknecht, 38, lives nearby and sometimes wants to take her children to the park.

She said: "It is not suitable for a child to play there with the rubbish, I fear there could be broken glass. The council should do more to make it a better place for children to play, it should be cleaned more often."

Cllr James O'Rourke slammed the council for allowing Stoneydown playground to deteriorate.

Cllr Geraldine Reardon said: "A total of £2.4million has been spent on improving our parks and open spaces over the past three years, including £400,000 on major improvements to 14 play sites."

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