Playground investment should help all Blackpool's children

Blackpool Better Start, which is funded through a £45m Lottery grant, has invested thousands of pounds in upgrading playgrounds.

But its remit is to focus only on the seven most deprived wards in the resort.

Investment has seen £70,000 spent on a new early years play zone at George Bancroft Park and £300,000 spent in Revoe Park.

Claremont Park is about to ‘break ground’ on its £248,000 redevelopment of the existing play zone, incorporating more early years play equipment.

Funds have also been allocated to Mereside (£135,000), @theGrange (£60,000) Caunce Street Play Area (£100,000) and a £50,000 investment will further enhance the play area at Queen Parks new housing development.

Children’s Centres have also shared in funding with a planned investment of £250,000 across all centres.

But councillors warned areas not covered by Better Start were missing out.

Coun Paul Galley told a full meeting of the council: "What are we offering children in the other wards that is consistent with what is being done by Better Start?"

Coun Maxine Callow added: "I welcome what is being done in the inner wards but there are people on the outskirts whose children need help too."

Coun Graham Cain, cabinet secretary for resilient communities, said: "Better Start is a massive project.

"They do a lot of work and while it is specific to seven wards, a lot of the work they do is replicated in other wards and we pick that up in the children's centres as well."