Fight to ensure Lanarkshire children have 'Space to Play' taken to parliament

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A South Lanarkshire campaign group has taken its fight to ensure children have 'Space to Play' to parliament. The campaign is asking South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) to prepare a play strategy that enables Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA) to be opened out with school hours and to renew all local play parks.

A furious backlash erupted when Hazelhead play park in St Leonards was removed following a spate of vandalism without the consultation of the wider community last year.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android It led to a petition being launched as part of the wider campaign, which has secured over 800 signatures.

The campaign group saw some success with the reopening of three MUGA facilities - St Leonard’s, Long Calderwood and St Hilary's primaries - to the public but campaigners insist more needs to be done.And its mission - to have the council recognise the importance of play for children’s' wellbeing - has been backed by Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay who recently raised a motion in the Scottish Parliament, with cross-party support.Ms Mackay said: “I commend the hard work and effort of the Space to Play campaigners who rightly highlight that MUGAS and play parks are fabulous spaces to help improve health, wellbeing and community activity.“I would urge SLC to prepare a play strategy which would