Families let down as play park pledge ‘broken’

Labour councillors have hit out at the SNP Government for breaking a flagship election pledge to renew every play park in Scotland.

Councillors from all parties expressed concern at the Council’s Executive Committee that the £60 million funding to renew the country’s playparks insufficient. The SNP Government’s manifesto promise is on course to be broken.

Councillor Lynsey Hamilton, Education Spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Labour Group, said: “The SNP’s promise to renew every play park in the country resonated far beyond the political bubble and so will news that their promise is being broken. The funding they are putting forward won’t come close to renewing every play park in South Lanarkshire. Local families have been massively let down.

“After more than a decade of austerity, exacerbated by SNP Government funding cuts, there are far too many neglected play parks. We don’t just need investment to upgrade our play equipment, we need investment to do the basics and make play parks safe and presentable. Not only should SNP Ministers ensure their manifesto commitments are fully funded, they should stop the brutal, excessive cuts to council budgets that led to the deterioration of play parks in the first place.”