🎢 Playgrounds

Westminster Hall

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In a passionate Westminster Hall debate, Tom Hayes MP of Bournemouth East highlighted the critical need for better playground facilities, stressing their importance for child development and community cohesion. Hayes shared insights from his constituents, emphasizing playgrounds as essential spaces for children’s physical and mental health, and a counter to screen time. Other MPs echoed the need for accessible and inclusive playgrounds, particularly for children with disabilities, and pushed for a new national play strategy. The Minister responded positively, agreeing to meet Hayes and Play England to discuss further improvements and acknowledging the need for enhanced playground provision across the UK.

Summary

  • Importance of Playgrounds: Tom Hayes emphasized the critical role of playgrounds in child development, highlighting their role in fostering creativity, social skills, and physical health. He noted the lack of a national play strategy since the last one in 2007 under a Labour government.

  • Public Sentiment: Hayes conducted a survey in Bournemouth East, receiving 642 responses showing strong community support for improved playgrounds. Constituents stressed the need for safe spaces for children to play and develop away from screens.

  • Cost of Living and Playgrounds: Playgrounds were highlighted as important free spaces for families, especially during the cost of living crisis, providing no-cost recreational opportunities.

  • Lack of Outdoor Space at Home: Many families rely on playgrounds due to the absence of private outdoor spaces, emphasizing the need for accessible and well-maintained public play areas.

  • Inclusivity for Special Needs: The debate underscored the necessity for playgrounds to cater to children with special educational needs and disabilities, noting current shortfalls in accessibility.

  • Social Connections: Playgrounds are vital social hubs not just for children but also for parents, fostering community cohesion and reducing isolation.

  • Government Action and Funding: Hayes urged the government to update the national play strategy, implement play sufficiency legislation, and ensure playgrounds are considered in planning policies. He also mentioned a successful local grant application in Bournemouth as an example of possible improvements.

  • Cross-Party Support: Contributions from various MPs, including Jim Shannon and Leigh Ingham, showed cross-party consensus on the importance of playgrounds and the need for better funding and inclusive design.

  • Health and Wellbeing: The debate highlighted the link between playgrounds and children’s physical and mental health, with concerns about rising obesity and declining outdoor play time being raised by speakers.

  • Community Efforts: Examples of community-driven campaigns to save and improve playgrounds were shared, showcasing the public’s commitment to accessible play spaces.

  • Ministerial Response: The Minister, Alex Norris, acknowledged the importance of playgrounds, promised to meet with Play England, and showed interest in revisiting the 2008 play strategy. He emphasized the role of local authorities in managing playgrounds and the need for equitable access to green spaces.

Divisiveness

The session on playground provision by local authorities exhibited a low level of disagreement among the participants. The overarching theme of the session was a strong consensus on the importance of playgrounds and the need for better provision and funding. Tom Hayes, the initiator of the debate, and subsequent speakers from various parties, including Labour, DUP, Liberal Democrats, and Conservatives, all supported the need for improved playground facilities with little to no opposition to the core ideas presented.

Key points of agreement included: - The critical role of playgrounds in child development, both physically and mentally. - The need for inclusivity, particularly for children with disabilities and special educational needs. - The call for more funding and strategic planning from local and central governments to enhance playground facilities. - The positive impact of playgrounds on community cohesion and the reduction of childhood obesity and screen time.

Even though different political parties were represented, there was a unified message across the board emphasizing the importance of playgrounds and the need for immediate government action. Disagreements, if any, were minor and more about how best to approach the problem rather than whether there was a problem at all. For instance, some speakers brought up specific local issues or suggested different methods for implementation, but these were not points of contention but rather additions to the overarching agreement.

The Minister, Alex Norris, responded positively, expressing willingness to meet with stakeholders and indicating that the government would consider past strategies and new legislation, further reinforcing the lack of significant disagreement. Therefore, the session is rated a 1 for minimal disagreement.