The Local Government
Association has backed the creation of a Parks Action Group.
The Government
announced earlier this month that a £500,000 fund was being created to support
the work of the new action, which aims to secure the long-term future of our
parks and green spaces.
With continuing
budget cuts making the task of preserving important community assets, the
action group will look to create a long-term strategy and has brought together
a variety of organisations to develop a plan.
Responding to the
announcement by Parks and Green Spaces Minister Marcus Jones MP in relation to
the Department for Communities and Local Government Select Committee Inquiry
into the Future of Public Parks in England and the creation of a new ‘Parks
Action Group’, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the Local Government
Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: "Councils understand
how important parks are to residents as community assets, and are using them to
promote health and fitness, local heritage, public art, festivals and wildlife
walks, as well as to provide pop-up spaces, host local events and give
communities a say in how their parks are run.
“Access to natural
spaces also improves mental wellbeing, helps people to recover from injuries
and illness faster, and improves productivity for workers with access to them
from nearby offices and factories.
“However, despite
ongoing funding pressures, which are having an impact on maintenance budgets,
councils are determined to ensure parks remain open and accessible to our
communities, which is why we fully support this Parks Action Group, which we
hope will help protect public parks for the enjoyment of current and future
generations.”
Meanwhile API Chair,
Mark Hardy, said it was an important time in the ongoing campaign to protect
the future of parks and green spaces.
"The wealth of
research showing the crucial role parks have to play in all our lives continues
to grow," he added. "We hope that the Parks Action Group will have a
positive impact on our parks and green spaces.
“We need to act now
to reverse the decline in parks and green spaces due to budget cuts. The recent
Heritage
Lottery Fund report highlighted cuts to budgets for the running of parks
and our own Nowhere2Play
campaign has revealed that between 2014/15 and 2015/16 local authorities across
England closed 214 children’s playgrounds, with plans to close a further 234.
“It’s welcome news
that the Parks Action Group have the full backing of the Local Government
Association, who, despite facing funding pressures, say they are determined to
protect parks for current and future generations.
“This joined-up
approach to safeguarding parks and green spaces is urgently needed. These
spaces have a major impact both at an individual and community level, improving
health, wellbeing and integration. They are also an important factor in
fighting the obesity epidemic, increasingly sedentary lifestyles and mental
health issues.”
