Several playgrounds are set to be permanently closed in Nottingham, it has been confirmed.
It is not yet clear which play areas will be closed, nor how many, but it is understood a list has been drawn up by the city council. This is not expected to be made public for several weeks.
Nottingham City Council has seen budget pressure of £87.9 million as a result of Covid-19. It has so far received £23.5 million from the Government.
As a result, it has announced significant cuts, including 154 job cuts, the closure of a day care centre for disabled people, and the closure of some play areas.
The council is yet to release a list of which play areas will close, but has said it will be the least used, or those in need of significant repair.
Councillor Dave Trimble is the head of parks at the city council, and represents the Lenton and Wollaton East ward for Labour.
He said: "This is the second load of cuts in the year, we already made cuts this year (in the budget for this financial year, set in March), lots of services had gone and yet here we are again, because of Covid and the Government not funding it, we’re having to make a second lot of cuts in the same year.
“That means another £700,000 from the leisure and culture budget has been lost. These are real tangible services.
“At a time when Covid has made parks far far more important than they have been since Victorian times, everybody has gone out and done their walking, their exercise, getting some air, getting away from being locked in a house all day long.
“Within our parks and open spaces we will be losing some playgrounds.
“Some staff in parks are going to be losing jobs because of this.
“This is the second time staff in parks are going to be losing jobs this year, right when they’re needed far more than ever, and I think they will maintain that importance over a long period of time.
"Lots of staff won’t be here to deliver those services at a time when Nottingham people need them most.”
Councillor Sam Webster represents the Castle ward for Labour, and said: “They are the ones that are under utilised and underused at the moment, or require some investment.
“There are some very small play areas, we’ve got hundreds across the city, and we’ve got a small number they’re going to look at in some areas.
“So we’ll be looking at the ones that are least used and in the worst condition, we’ve invested a lot in improving a lot of play areas, and the vast majority of them will remain.”
