Council chiefs have claimed the SNP’s flagship policy on sprucing up every play park has been “revised” after high-level talks.
A leaked document shows changes to the “scope and flexibility” of the promise amid funding concerns.
The £60million pledge to renew “every” play park was included in the SNP ’s manifesto for the Holyrood election.
After winning the election, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it had been a commitment that “penetrates beyond the political bubble”.
However, a confidential paper by council umbrella group COSLA reveals the body told the Government £60million was not enough and raised the “impracticability” of refurbishing all play parks.
It said “compromise wording” was agreed which gave councils “flexibility” to determine where the funding would be targeted.
The “revised” wording states: “It is recognised that the extent of renewal, and refurbishment will vary across the whole play estate and will be influenced by local plans and investment priorities and engagement with children and young people.
“However, Ministers expect that the whole play estate will be considered and all play parks that have been identified for refurbishment in line with nationally agreed principles and influenced by local plans and investment priorities will be refurbished...”
COSLA also told the Government there will be times where a refurb is “inappropriate” due to critical maintenance needing to be the priority.
The paper quoted Ministers agreeing to “consider” the case for extra funding beyond the £60million.
Another part of the leaked document claimed a definition of play park had been agreed: “Local authority owned, managed or maintained sites, designated for play, which are free to access and open to all”.
The definition focuses on the 0-14 age range and excludes multi-use game areas (MUGAs).
The Record understands council leaders backed the refurb plan in light of the paper saying the policy had been “revised”.
A council source said: “It has been scaled back.”
Scottish Labour MSP Mark Griffin said: “We are not even 100 days into this term and the SNP are already abandoning their election promises.
“Scotland’s play parks are in desperate need of renewal because of this government’s brutal cuts to Council budgets. This government funding was only ever about fixing a problem they created – and now they’re not even doing that.”
COSLA declined to comment.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As part of the government’s 100 day commitments, we have said that we will agree the first allocation of funding to councils for refurbishment of play parks. Our expectation is that the consideration process agreed with Cosla will deliver this commitment. We hope to make an announcement soon.”
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