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For four and a half years Pembrokeshire County Council have encouraged community councils and local groups to run their own play areas, and have not been replacing playground equipment when it falls into disrepair.

But parents in some parts of Pembrokeshire say that not all communities are capable of running their own .

Residents on the Bush and Park Estate in Pembroke Dock lost one of their play areas just after Christmas 2003.

They say they did not have the money, the time or the experience to run it themselves.

Jan Rees is the Chair of the Bush and Park Estate Tenants and Residents Association. She said:

“This is an area of very low pay and .

“It is all very well for the leaders to say, ‘go up to the sports centre’.

“This offers a free facility that should be a child’s right.”

Not far enough

Following resistance across Pembrokeshire, the council decided this week to alter their policy of handing over control of play areas to local communities by offering financial help with insurance and maintenance costs.

They will offer 500 to each group and will inspect the areas regularly.

But campaigners say this does not go far enough.

Who should be responsible for maintenance and safety?

Councillor Sue Perkins who represents the Llanion ward in Pembroke Dock says that the local council should be responsible for the County’s play areas.

“It is going to be a post code lottery, and it will depend where you live as to whether you have a play area, or not.”

Wiston Community Council has run its play area at Clarbeston Road outside Haverfordwest for two and a half years.

Local parents and children raised substantial sums of money to match-fund grants to enable them to buy new equipment.

Community councillors and parents help to cut the grass, maintain the equipment, inspect the area regularly and continue to raise funds to cover insurance costs.

Self help

Ellmore Brown is a councillor on Wiston Community Council.

“We get the of keeping the children happy, we are self sufficient in funding, and people have learnt to take responsibility.”

This kind of input by local communities into play provision is welcomed by Play Wales, the national organisation for children’s play, but they question whether it is right that they should take on the management responsibility.

Toni Chilton is Principal Development Officer with Play Wales, and he says:

“There are a whole range of issues surrounding management of public play facilities that are beyond many communities.

“The necessary infrastructure legally and otherwise would have to be in place, and there needs to be assurance that the area is maintained to an acceptable level.”

The Welsh Assembly Government says that if any community council disagrees with County Councils who have adopted this policy, they should take it up with the councils directly, but that its policy is to encourage a partnership approach to the provision of services.

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