Leeds City Council needs to get playgrounds open so children can enjoy their summer holidays - YEP letters

I read with interest the comments made by Coun Rafique in relation to council operated playgrounds in your recent article (‘Reopening all Leeds play areas ‘impossible’ under current Covid-19 restrictions says senior councillor’, Yorkshire Evening Post August 17).

He calls for us all to work together during the current crisis, a sentiment that I entirely agree with, yet in the same breath seeks to blame the government for the opening of playgrounds in Leeds.

Other local authorities of all sizes have been opening playgrounds enabling children in those districts to enjoy the summer weather and have a taste of normality after a very disruptive period that has seen them miss months of schooling and lose contact with class mates and friends.

In Leeds it seems the administration has been hiding behind government guidance rather than taking responsibility, formulating a plan to open playgrounds in a safe manner and getting on with the job in as many places as possible across Leeds.

To date these efforts have resulted in seven playgrounds opening, out of 200. This is simply not good enough.

I agree that play facilities must be opened safely but I have some concerns about opening some of the larger playgrounds, where families travel to use them and footfall is much higher, whilst leaving smaller, community playgrounds closed.

In local community parks it is much more likely that ‘local bubbles’ will be maintained as the same people tend to use them.

It is baffling that we find ourselves in this situation, my colleagues and I have been asking questions about playgrounds for weeks and we have not been informed of clear plans for their reopening.

If it was all about working together, as Coun Rafique claims, then why, as the main opposition group, has he not shared his plans with us and why is the council seeking to blame the government?

This is a Leeds issue and the council needs to get on and get more playgrounds open.

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Editor