Local authorities in London are struggling to maintain their playgrounds due to a lack of funding, new survey reveals.
A poll of three-quarters of the capital’s councils found that the majority (88%) say that children’s play is a priority.
However, the London Play survey also found that a third of respondents believe the play facilities provided are not adequate for demand.
More than two thirds of respondents also warned that revenue for staff to manage and maintain play areas over the next three years is likely to either decrease or stay the same.
Chair of London Play, Melian Mansfield, said: ‘Opening a new playground is usually seen as a positive thing. But if there is no money to maintain it, or it is replacing adventurous play with less exciting play – or worse, it is nothing more than a token effort – then the benefits to children and the community become questionable.’
More than a quarter of London’s local authorities are planning playground closures in the next three years, according to London Play.
The capital has lost six staffed adventure playgrounds since the outset of the pandemic, bringing the total to around 70, down from 82 just a decade ago.
