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Playgrounds
08 January 2025
Lead MP
Tom Hayes
Bournemouth East
Lab
Responding Minister
Alex Norris
Tags
Economy
Word Count: 10043
Other Contributors: 12
At a Glance
Tom Hayes raised concerns about playgrounds in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Tom Hayes asks the Minister to conduct a full review of current playground provision across England, ensuring that all play areas are accessible and inclusive for children with special educational needs and disabilities. He also calls for an increase in funding towards playground development as part of a new national play strategy.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The debate highlights the neglect of playground provision over the past decade with only one national play strategy launched 17 years ago, and the current lack of investment leading to dilapidated playground equipment excluding children with special educational needs. The survey received 642 responses indicating that parents want spaces for their children's physical and cognitive development as well as free outdoor activities in a cost-of-living crisis.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
Highlights that his constituency has historic parks but agrees with the concern about lack of access to playgrounds. Commends Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council for mapping play facilities voluntarily.
Alex Ballinger
Con
Halesowen and Rowley Regis
The reliance on central government funding for playground renovation projects, such as Haden Hill Park, highlights the need for fair and sustainable funding for local councils. Councils must be supported in their efforts to provide accessible play spaces. Stressed the need for investment in playground facilities.
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
Investment in playgrounds brings footfall into town centres and nearby shops and cafés, thereby benefiting the local economy. An example is the King George V playing field in Brecon.
Deirdre Costigan
Lab
Ealing Southall
Playgrounds are crucial for the development and well-being of children in urban areas, but funding cuts over the last decade have led to a decline in their availability. The new Labour Government is committed to ensuring that playgrounds are a consideration in all new developments through changes to national planning policy. Addressed the decline of playgrounds due to financial pressures on local authorities.
Epsom and Ewell
Stressed the importance of playgrounds beyond physical education, highlighting a growing play crisis with 2.3 million children living far from parks.
Jas Athwal
Lab
Ilford South
Playgrounds are a vital resource providing free and accessible activity space for children, supporting mental and physical development and reducing loneliness by creating hubs for families to meet and socialise. Investment in playgrounds is crucial for the wellbeing of children and families.
Jen Craft
Lab
Thurrock
Playgrounds are a vital part of local community infrastructure, but for disabled children and their families, this access is often not forthcoming. Scope's polling found that one in 10 disabled children have minimal or no access to their local playground.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Commends Tom Hayes's speech and discusses the challenges of securing funding and maintaining play parks, highlighting a successful community campaign in his constituency to keep a park open. Advocates for a national strategy to ensure equal access to playgrounds. Emphasized community empowerment in park management.
Leigh Ingham
Lab
Stafford
Concerned about insufficient accessible parks for neurodiverse children, advocating for well-designed playground equipment and safety measures. Discussed the importance of local authorities managing parks and green spaces effectively.
Paul Holmes
Con
Hamble Valley
Highlights disparities in playground provision across the country with 31% of children under nine living more than a 10-minute walk from their nearest playground. Criticizes budget constraints and regional variations affecting playground availability.
Shockat Adam
Ind
Leicester South
Playgrounds are essential in combating childhood obesity and fostering community cohesion, particularly in an era dominated by screen time and social media. They offer a vital escape from the concrete jungle for children to engage in physical activity and social interaction.
Vikki Slade
Lab
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Emphasises the importance of outdoor play spaces for community engagement, child development, physical and mental health. Criticizes lack of investment since 2019 Playbuilder project. Outlines challenges faced by local authorities in enforcing developer promises for playgrounds.
Government Response
Alex Norris
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Government Response
Welcomes the debate on playground provision and highlights the importance of play spaces in child development. Acknowledges challenges related to cost of living and social justice issues affecting access to play areas for children with disabilities and from ethnic minority backgrounds. Mentions plans to tackle inequalities in physical activity levels among poorer children and girls. Acknowledged local authorities' role in managing parks, committed significant resources to local government to rebuild important services, and expressed willingness to meet with stakeholders including Eugene Minogue from Play England. The Minister also pledged to address play sufficiency legislation and improve mapping of play facilities while considering equity.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.