Campaigners urge PM to protect playgrounds after 429 closures
Campaigners have called on the Prime Minister to protect playgrounds after data revealed that 429 playgrounds have closed in England over the past decade.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Campaigners have called on the Prime Minister to protect playgrounds after data showed that 429 playgrounds closed in England over the decade up to 2022. The figures, obtained through freedom of information requests to every local authority, also reveal that more than 2 million children aged up to nine do not live within a 10-minute walk of a playground. An open letter has been sent to the PM urging him to finish what he started, with references to a national play strategy launched in 2008 by Andy Burnham and Ed Balls that was later scrapped by the following government.
In Hackney, east London, a much-loved football pitch used by local children is under threat from plans to build new homes. The cage, as it is known, is a regular meeting point for boys who organise tournaments and say it keeps them out of trouble. One boy said: "It's a place where we can all have fun. Instead of having to get ourselves in trouble, we come here and play football." Another added: "It would be all right, but you just lose the memories from there, that's about it." A local woman said: "Extra steps, extra petrol, extra everything. So I think the shorter, the better." A third child said: "They need houses so that I get that. But also I feel a bit sad because we can't play football."
Tara, a photographer who lives locally and has been documenting children using the space, questioned the trade-off. "Taking one space like this away is not going to solve a massive housing crisis," she said. "There needs to be a really strategic plan for protecting children's play spaces." She noted that the replacement pitch would be smaller and differently designed, which would affect how it is used.
Campaigners argue that play is essential for childhood development. One said: "Play is not frivolous. We need to make sure that we restore a play-based childhood. Children, unfortunately today, are grown up in a phone-based childhood and we need to restore children's play." Another added: "Decisions like this are often made by people in high places who never see the faces they impact."
The PM has said he wants to give power back to the people. But those affected say they just want somewhere to play. The open letter calls on the government to protect existing playgrounds and ensure new developments include adequate play spaces.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| 429 playgrounds closed in England over a decade up to 2022. | |
| An open letter to the Prime Minister called for protection of playgrounds. | |
| Over 2 million children aged up to nine do not live within 10 minutes of a playground. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel focused on the human impact of playground closures, using a local example in Hackney where a football pitch is threatened by housing development. It gave voice to children and a local photographer, and framed the issue as a conflict between housing needs and preserving play spaces. The tone was sympathetic to the campaigners, with a clear call for the PM to act.
- “Play is not frivolous. We need to make sure that we restore a play-based childhood.”
- “Decisions like this are often made by people in high places who never see the faces they impact.”
- “Now the PM says he wants to give power back to the people. Well, these people, like many across England, say they just want somewhere to play.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.