TWELVE schemes to re-develop or create play areas in West Berkshire are in jeopardy due to Government spending cuts.
The coalition Government has halted all construction work on play sites to be funded by the national Playbuilder scheme until further notice.
Local play areas which could be affected include: Victoria Park, Almond Avenue, Cromwell Road, and Fifth Road, all in Newbury; Chieveley Skate Park; Siegecross Play Area, Thatcham; Great Shefford Recreation Ground; Hampstead Norreys; Fairground Stratfield Mortimer; the skatepark at Holybrook, Calcot; Stockcross Recreation Ground; Turnham's Farm Recreation Ground,Tilehurst.
West Berkshire Council has been asked to provide the list of schemes and their status, and the Government is expected to contact the council at the end of August regarding the grant funding for each project.
Newbury Town Council has been advised to continue with its applications for the Cromwell Road and Fifth Road areas in the hope that these schemes will get the green light.
Other grants in addition to Playbuilder are needed for the redevelopment of Victoria Park, also being overseen by Newbury Town Council. West Berkshire Council was also hoping to redevelop the Almond Avenue play area using the Playbuilder grant.
Newbury Town Council’s chief executive officer, Graham Hunt, said that if the Playbuilder grants failed then they would have to seek other funding.
He said: "It will be disappointing if they don't go ahead.
"Until that date comes and goes we won't be able to instruct people to carry on with work."
Plans for a brand new play facility in Cromwell Road and the re-development of the Fifth Road play area are under threat.
Thatcham Town Council has informed West Berkshire Council that a large climbing unit had already been demolished in preparation for the re-development of Siegecross Play Area and without Playbuilder funds it would only have enough money to replace this unit.
Chairman of the recreation and amenities committee of the council, John Boyd, said: "If you are going around parks these days there's a lot of more modern equipment; the park in Siegecross does not have that. We need to keep up."
Chairwoman of Tilehurst Parish Council, Jean Gardener, said she felt sick when she discovered the Playbuilder grants may not be available and said she was very "disappointed for the youngsters" as it was their petition which made it possible.
She said: "We always try to get what the youngsters ask for so we are disappointed for them but still hopeful."
Chairman of Great Shefford Parish Council, Andrew Sleigh, said that they were upset with the news and chairman of Hampstead Norreys Parish Council, Ian Harry, said he was relieved that their parish council has received some of the Playbuilder grant already although will not be able to afford the new play area without the full grant.