Earlier in the week the Conservative Education Secretary, Michael Gove, announced that he intended to freeze grants to UK councils for the building of children’s playgrounds.
It made us wonder what the effect on the Island might be, so we contacted the Isle of Wight council, who helpfully provided us with a detailed response.
The council is one year into a planned two-year scheme to build 22 new playgrounds across the Island, but recently the government has asked for details of them all – completed, advanced and in planning – to be sent to them for review.
12 playgrounds already built
The families of the Island have already benefited from 12 playgrounds that have been built and are in community use are: Puckpool Park; Batts Copse (Shanklin); Seabreeze Park (Ventnor); Sandham Gardens (Sandown); Oakwood Road (Ryde); Wootton Recreational Ground; Preston Close (Ryde); Nelson Road (Newport); Hookes Way (Newport); Gurnard; Northwood Recreational Ground; Niton Recreational Ground.
Three more at an advanced stage: Uncertain
A further three playgrounds are currently at an advanced stage of planning and delivery – Brading Recreational Ground, Pan Estate, Venner Avenue (Northwood) – but the completion of these are now in the hands of the government.
The IWC Community Leisure Development Manager, Lee Matthews, told VB, “We have stressed to the government that should the funding for these projects be withdrawn, then these local communities stand to lose a very valuable community asset.”
The final seven: In doubt
The potential of the remaining seven playgrounds are in doubt.
As Lee Matthews said, “It is likely that the funding for the remaining seven proposed playgrounds will be withdrawn, however this is currently subject to a review by the government and we will wait to hear a final decision later this month.”
We’ll keep an eye on this and let you know more as we do.
