Minister announces £13m new funding for parks

Councils across the country are to benefit from more than £13 million funding to breathe new life in to our green spaces for the benefit of all, Communities Secretary James Brokenshire has confirmed.

From day-to-day maintenance costs to essential playground repairs and the creation of new green spaces, £9.7 million of new funding will give local leaders and communities resources to better maintain, protect and increase their recreational spaces.

An additional £2.75 million will also be made available for the pocket parks plus programme to support communities to take the lead in transforming their neglected and derelict spaces.

A further £1.2 million has been provided to the National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Future Parks Accelerator initiative. The partnership supports local authorities to test new and innovative approaches to managing and funding parks, ensuring the benefits of public parks and green spaces are enjoyed by future generations.

With this latest set of actions, this government reaffirms its commitment to creating great places to live and work and ensure communities are able to enjoy the benefits parks and green spaces bring to local life.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said: "Our parks and green spaces are huge assets to our towns and cities, offering precious spaces for all of us to get together, to exercise and to play.

"This latest funding will support bold proposals to help renovate and restore existing parks and create new vibrant, safe green spaces for our communities.

"The future of our nation’s parks is an issue close to all our hearts and we will do all we can to preserve these vital green lungs that breathe life into our communities."

Responding to the announcement, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: “The LGA has long made the case for the importance of parks and green spaces to people’s health and wellbeing, so we are pleased that government has acknowledged this with this much-needed investment.

"Our public parks and green spaces are some of our most cherished local services, and this injection of money will boost councils’ efforts to keep these open and in good condition, despite facing significant funding pressures.

“The money local government has to provide vital services such as parks and open spaces is running out fast and huge uncertainty remains about how councils will pay for services into the next decade and beyond.

“With councils in England facing an overall funding gap of £8 billion by 2025, the forthcoming Spending Review will be make or break for local services and it is vital the Government uses this to put local government on a sustainable footing into the next decade and beyond.”

The announcement builds on action the government has already taken to encourage more people to make better use of parks including:

  • creating the £1 million ‘pocket parks’ fund to help communities transform neglected and derelict spaces and establish over 80 new green spaces in urban areas across the country
  • extending the Green Flag Award licence by a further five years in September 2017 means the people behind Britain’s best parks and green spaces will continue to be recognised and awarded for their tireless dedication

The government will continue to work with the Parks Action Group, which represents leaders from across the parks sector, to help ensure that current and future generations can continue to access safe, high quality and local parks.

Featured News

Wembley Stadium creates 100% recyclable pitch

Wembley Stadium has staged some of the nation’s most memorable...
...Read More

Green spaces to be rejuvenated through new government investment

Community orchards, kitchen gardens, and natural play areas are...
...Read More



Directory

Latest Products

Aspen 4 -

By Aspen


Aspen 4 is alkylate petrol without oil –...

Aspen 2 -

By Aspen


Aspen 2 is alkylate petrol premixed at 50:1 with a...

Arborist 150 -

By GreenMech


The popular Arborist 150 is a simple-to-use and...

VIDEOS

WRT Video Winton FTS -

By Farm Tech Supplies Ltd


Introducing the Foamstream L12 -

By Weeding Technologies


Movember x Turf Tank - 2022 -

By Turf Tank