PLANS to build a number of new children’s areas in Chester could face the axe following Government spending cuts.
The recent announcement could threaten plans for two play areas in the city, and eight other play areas across western Cheshire.
Education Secretary Michael Gove froze grants to 132 councils for building and running up to 1,300 schemes, including those planned by Cheshire West and Chester Council.
So far, just 12 out of the 22 allocated play areas under the £235 million Playbuilder scheme have been built in Cheshire. The programme, which was introduced under the Labour Government about two years ago, was brought in to develop 3,500 playgrounds designed by and for the communities they were to serve.
However, a slash in Government spending under the new Coalition means that two play schemes in the city could not go ahead as planned.
Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) said it was not in a position to reveal where the two play areas are in Chester. CWaC spokesperson Shirley Wingfield said the council expected to hear about changes to the funding application by the end of this month.
Hundreds of community playground schemes across the UK are being axed because of the government cuts, but those under construction will go ahead.