COMMUNITY groups across Oxford are to be told to seek lottery funding and charity money to bring run-down play areas in the city up to standard.

Oxford City Council is turning to them for help because it does not have enough cash to pay for the refurbishment of every play park.

The council's parks department has already been awarded cash for play areas and cannot bnid again.

Bringing the city's 90 or so play parks up to standard is expected to cost £3m over six years - but the council has only £390,000 to spend.

Leisure chiefs now think the solution is for mother-and-toddler groups, parish councils and local action groups to apply for external funding.

Opposition councillors have accused the Liberal Democrat administration of passing the buck, but deputy council leader David Rundle said "communities knew best".

Earlier this year, a draft council report recommended closing 14 play areas.

But a new report to be circulated to the city's six area committees this week, said closures were not necessary if funding was sought.

City council parks manager John Wade said: "The previous draft report recommended closures of some play areas.

"This report, reflecting the results of consultation and political direction, presents a different approach.

"Closures are not essential and would have provided only a small saving to the day-to-day maintenance budget."

Charities to which communities could apply include:

  • BIG Lottery Fund
  • UK Villages Community Kitty
  • Co-operative Community Fund
  • Children's Play Programme
  • Awards for All
  • Better Neighbourhood Grant Mother-of-two Nicola Bastable, whose home backs on to Sermon Close play area in Risinghurst - which needs £70,000 of investment - said: "The nearest parks to here involve crossing roads.

"We are happy to help towards the cost of updating it by fundraising, but ideally the council should put the money towards improving the site."

Her daughter Rosanna,13, added: "We all come here to play and our parents can see us so they don't worry about us.

"If they knock it down we've got nowhere else to go - it's our friendship area and if we lose it we will have nowhere else to go."

The city council said it would make some so-called planning gain money - or developer cash - available and has increased its play area refurbishment budget.

Mr Rundle said: "None of these play areas has to close.

"The question is who is best placed to make these bids - and the more local, the more likely of success.

"This is about making decisions in the right place - and that's in the heart of communities, not hidden away in the Town Hall.

"The resources for any local authority are limited, finite and decreasing.

"In that situation we can either say 'there is nothing we can do about it' or we say 'how can we get round this?' - and the key is getting external funding."