News
Petition to "Make the provision of play services a statutory obligation for local authorities in the UK"
3 Apr 2009
A petition calling for the provision of play services to be made a statutory obligation for local authorities in the UK has now been answered by the government. The petition was submitted following the Welsh Assembly's decision to pass the measure, urging the Prime Minister to roll it out to the rest of the UK.
The government will not be making play a statutory obligation for local authorities but in its response to the petition reminded readers about current strategies to incorporate play within the Children Act 2004 and within the Every Child Matters framework. Thirty local authorities have been identified as Play Pathfinders to deliver a minimum of 28 new or refurbished play areas and one staffed adventure playground per local authority. The remaining authorities are Playbuilders that are expected to deliver a minimum of 22 new or refurbished play areas per local authority. This means that by 2011 there will be 3,500 new or refurbished play areas and 30 new staffed adventure playgrounds.
To read the full response visit www.number10.gov.uk
(3 April 2009)
