Ball is rolling on £1m play fund

Every councillor in Swansea is being invited to a share of £1m to improve play facilities across the city.

In September Swansea Council’s Cabinet agreed to set-up the fund which can be used for a variety of schemes such as improving or refurbishing existing playgrounds and equipment or creating new facilities.

Councillors in Pontarddulais have already committed their share towards funding a new all-weather sports pitch at the town’s comprehensive school.

Cllr Robert Francis Davies, Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said many more schemes are set to follow.

He said: “The councillors in each ward will choose how to spend the money on play facilities in their wards and we are having meetings with every ward member.

“Some will want to invest in multi-use games areas, others will want zip-lines and some will want young children’s play areas where mums, dads and grandparents can take toddlers along to enjoy.

“Over the next 18 months people will see a terrific investment – well over £1m because others will contribute to this as well through grant funding.

“Swansea is already blessed with many great parks and outdoor areas which have been so important to many people during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We also already have many popular and well used play areas. Children have a right to play and as part of our UNESCO pledge on children’s rights we are delivering on children’s play.”

Councillors are being provided with an overview of their current facilities within their ward to assist in their decision making or priorities.

All 72 of the city’s councillors already have access to their own community budget which they can use during their period of office to support good causes, highway improvement works, build or improve bus shelters or upgrade street lighting.

Earlier this year it was agreed that councillors would have access to an addition £1m fund to make it possible for ward members to put forward bigger schemes which cash from their own budget could not cover in the past.

The £1m play scheme investment will be on top of this but will be ring fenced for play facilities.

Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Business Improvement and Performance, said: “I’m pleased to see councillors are already pressing ahead and developing plans for their wards.

“Members often receive requests to find ways to help provide or improve play facilities and thanks to this £1m fund it will be possible to invest more in the kind of priorities local people want to see because they’ll make a difference in their neighbourhoods.

“Councillors will still have access to their own budgets which they can use to either supplement projects supported by the new fund or respond to requests for other schemes.”