Boris Johnson’s pledge to tackle childhood obesity looks hollow after we discovered eight out of 10 playgrounds need repairing.
They have had broken or damaged equipment and surroundings for at least a month.
Now campaigners are pressing for more cash to fix the problem.
Leyla Preston, of online magazine Motherhood Diaries, who is campaigning to get computer-addicted children playing outside, said:
“Those from poorer backgrounds lose out from lack of repair or abandonment of playgrounds.”
The Prime Minister unveiled a new obesity strategy last July after it emerged one in three children leaving primary school are overweight.
The Sunday People sent freedom of information requests about the state of playgrounds to 354 councils in England and Wales.
Some 248 admitted to a total of 27,385 unresolved repairs.
Mark Hardy, of the Association of Play Industries, said: “If playgrounds are not attractive places, then the kids don’t want to go.”
Labour MP Steve McCabe, chair of the Fit and Healthy Childhood group, added: “There’s not much point having an obesity strategy if you don’t have the basics in place.”
Ex-teacher Jo Moore, 61, who is raising cash to refurbish her run-down local park in Brislington, Bristol, said: “Parks have not been a priority for the council due to austerity and lack of staff.”
A government plan to ban TV and online junk food ads before 9pm is still under consultation.
