Shropshire loses out on play area revamp cash

Shropshire has lost out on funding worth almost £600,000, meaning 14 projects to transform play areas in the county have been put on hold.

Some communities said they were determined to continue trying to push ahead with the play schemes for their villages and areas but the loss of the cash would "greatly minimise" what could be done.

Shropshire Council yesterday said it had lost £593,894 of Department of Education funding which would have allowed it to carry out a second wave of schemes to create, or substantially improve, play areas under the previous Government's Playbuilder initiative.

A review of 14 projects is now under way to see whether they can go ahead including ones earmarked for Condover, Monkmoor, Pontesbury, Shrewsbury Sports Village, Yockleton, Ellesmere, Newtown (Wem), Prees and Stanton upon Hine Heath.

Others under review include ones planned at Weston under Redcastle, Whittington, Chelmarsh, Sheriffhales and Lydbury North.

Today Councillor Tony Durnell, Monkmoor councillor on Shrewsbury Town Council, said the loss of about £50,000 for play facilities at the Monkmoor Recreation Ground in Underdale was a "body blow".

He said: "Obviously any cuts do affect places and I'm a little bit saddened this funding has been pulled." He said he hoped a smaller scheme could be brought forward.

Lesley Rumney, clerk to Prees Parish Council, said they were in the early stages of applying for funding to revamp the well used play area in the middle of Prees.

She said: "For Prees it's quite disappointing. We lost a couple of items due to health and safety so we will have to look somewhere else for funding."

Jo Humphreys, vice chairman of Stanton Upon Hine Heath Parish Council, said the decision would deal a blow to plans for a playground in the village.

"David Owen, clerk of Pontesbury Parish Council, said it would be a "disappointment" if an expansion of the existing play area in the village could not go-ahead.

Nikki Pugh, chairman of the governors at Lydbury North Primary School, said: "The parish was due to receive £20,000. It is very disappointing to hear it's not going ahead."

By John Kirk