FOUR new city play areas have been announced.

Meanwhile, the consultion for a new play park on Oxford’s Barton estate is about to begin.

Council chiefs will distribute £800,000 between the Play Barton scheme and Littlemore Recreation Ground, Pegasus Road Play Area, Florence Park Play Area and South Oxford Adventure Playground.

Play Barton will be the largest investment on one site, creating one of the largest play areas in Oxfordshire, at Underhill Circus.

But the plans have changed since the project stalled in July last year, when Education Secretary Michael Gove told County Hall to stop work while £1bn in savings was found.

The new plans mean the play area will be moved further away from homes and there will no longer be works to the brook.

The £800,000 will also no longer be spent entirely on Barton, but distributed to the other four play areas.

Sue Holden, secretary of the Barton Community Association, said: “We are delighted and proud that the community was successful in winning this project.

“It will be wonderful for local children to be able to enjoy high-quality play.”

The new play area will also include the modernisation of a part of Barton Neighbourhood Centre.

The cash has been made available by Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council.

Louise Chapman, county cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “We’re delighted that this project will be going ahead.

“We have worked closely with colleagues in Oxford City Council to ensure that the views of residents were taken full account of and to maximise the potential of the programme to allow as many children and families to benefit from exciting outdoor play spaces across Oxford city.”

Littlemore parish councillor Dorian Hancock said residents in Littlemore were delighted with the news.

He said: “Littlemore is a big estate but isn’t one of the biggest, so it has always been ignored.

“So anything we get for the children of the 6,500 people that live here is fantastic.”

He added: “This will benefit the children today, but also tomorrow’s children too.”

Councillor Mark Lygo, city council board member for sport, play and school liaison, said: “Being able to distribute some of the £800,000 funding awarded to the city between several areas of need is a huge bonus to the city.

“It means that some of the sites that were under-funded or had received no funding at all can now benefit from this award. ”

Parents, children and young people can have their say on Play Barton on Monday, between 3pm and 7pm at the Play Shop on Underhill Circus.

Construction is expected to begin in the summer.