News from Southampton Labour

No more play areas for Southampton as cuts halt building plans

Southampton Labour are calling for more action on building play areas in the city.

There has been a resident-run local campaign for a new play area on Freemantle Common, Peartree, for over 5 years. Labour’s John Denham MP and Councillor Darren Paffey have supported the campaign for a play area in Freemantle Common and are disappointed with the lack of action from the Tories on Southampton City Council and in Government.

The Council have confirmed to Cllr Paffey that there are no further plans to fund the building of a play area. Freemantle Common was originally part of the Playbuilder Programme. However, in the third year of the programme, the potential funding of £50,000 was withdrawn for Freemantle Common due to the change of Government. The new Conservative-led Government scrapped the scheme altogether.

Mr Denham said: “This Tory-led Government have dashed the hopes of all the campaigners who have worked so hard to get this play area in Freemantle Common. Years of work have now led to nothing. Why don’t the Tories do more for families and communities?”

Cllr Darren Paffey said: “This is deeply disappointing. Progress on this has stalled, even though other play areas around the city have been completed. Freemantle Common is a prime location for a play area, especially because of all the families who live in the streets nearby. Will the Tories at the City Council be replacing the funding that their Westminster bosses cut from our local kids? I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask for funding for one play area and I won’t be letting the matter rest.”

Other news from Southampton Labour

• Huge cuts in free social care under last Tory Southampton administration - 16 May 2012
• Southampton Itchen MP responds to new unemployment figures - 16 May 2012
• UK back in recession: Southampton's MPs respond - 25 April 2012