Success for Luton Recreation Play Area

Residents were tonight happy that Luton Recreation Ground is to see a fully funded new play area within six months after conversations on the doorstep.

The site was included after direct lobbying in the Council chamber for extra funding by this blogger in October.

In October, this blogger asked the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, the following question:

'The current Conservative and Liberal Democrat Government are slashing education budgets which includes teaching assistants, study support, school advisory teams, Playbuilder and budgets for the Medway Youth Trust. What representations have you made to government to protect the very popular Playbuilder scheme and the funding of new facilities on Barnfield and Luton Recreational grounds?'

Cllr Doe offered no firm response, despite protestations.

Followed up with a question stating that the funding for the scheme was necessary and that given the removal of the ring-fence could he guarantee both projects would go ahead.

It is welcome therefore, that Luton Recreation Ground has seen improvement but it is concerning that residents in Wayfield will still have to look at an husk of a play area because of Tory cuts.

Another nine play areas across Medway are to be renovated after a decision by Medway Council’s Cabinet.

The Cabinet agreed on Tuesday 30th November to allocate almost £400,000

This follows the eleven sites that were transformed earlier this year, bringing the total site improved under the scheme in Medway to twenty.

The latest funding of £381,518 comes from the government’s Playbuilder Programme. A programme introduced by the previous Labour government and which has been threatened by other Conservative Councils.

Changes to the scheme this year meant that councils were no longer obliged to use the funding for this purpose. With the removal of ringfencing, local authorities could use these funds for other schemes.

It is heartening to see that given the cut backs that some projects in some of the more disadvantaged wards are allocated resources. Pity Wayfield residents were not given the same respect, but welcome investment in Luton none the less.