Sowerby Bridge News

Calderdale's Playground Plans On Hold

Seven schemes to refurbish Calderdale playgrounds have been put on hold while the Council waits to find out whether the Government will suspend funding. The Playbuilder programme has already seen 14 Calderdale playgrounds refurbished and rebuilt over three years.

In 2008, Calderdale was awarded £1,171,000 to refurbish 22 playgrounds under the Government’s Children’s Plan. A total of £235m was allocated nationwide over the three-year programme to build or upgrade more than 3,500 playgrounds.

The final phase of the scheme this year would have seen eight more Calderdale playgrounds refurbished at a cost of £388,000 and the Council has been working hard with residents and the local community on the plans.

One scheme, at Dodnaze, Hebden Bridge, will still go ahead as work had already starting on building the new playground, which is expected to open in mid August.

However the Department of Education has now asked that Calderdale Council suspend all work on the remaining seven schemes, until a decision on funding is made in late August.

The list of schemes on hold and are affected are as follows:-

• Lane Head recreation ground Brighouse Ward
• Ainley recreation ground Elland Ward
• Beechwood (Kingsley Avenue) – Ryburn Ward
• Caddyfields Town Ward
• Pellon recreation ground ( Sandbeds) Warley Ward
• Conway Street Park Ward
• Copley recreation ground Skircoat Ward.

Councillor David O ‘Neill, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, said:
“Local people have been heavily involved in drawing up plans for the Playbuilder refurbishments and we want to keep them informed while we await a final decision on funding for the projects. We will continue to do all we can to provide the best possible play facilities for the people of Calderdale. However, withdrawal of this funding will severely affect our ability to deliver the above schemes, as they are reliant upon this external grant.”