Eleven new play areas threatened by Government cuts will be completed by next March, Bradford Council has pledged.

It has now been able to release funding for nine play areas from the Government’s Playbuilder Grant, introduced in 2009.

The grant was originally intended to fund 22 new play areas between 2009 and 2011 but the amount of cash was reduced when the Department for Education froze grants to 122 councils across the country, for up to 1,300 play area schemes.

The £379,831 allocated to Bradford Council this year is enough to fund nine remaining play sites in addition to the ten already provided in the first phase of the Playbuilder project.

Two further playgrounds can be created using other Council funds this financial year, and one of the Playbuilder Phase Two play areas has already been completed, meaning all 22 play areas will be built.

The new projects to be completed by the end of March, 2011, are Spencer Road, Horton Grange; Bowling Park, West Bowling; Blackshaw, Buttershaw; Princeville Primary, Lidget Green; Claremont Park, Wrose; Woodside Play, Woodside; Northcliffe Park, Shipley; Eagles’ Nest, Guardhouse, Keighley and Tong Park, Baildon.

Councillor Ralph Berry, executive member for children’s services and education, said: “It’s great news that we have been able to forge ahead to complete this project and provide 22 new play areas for the district, despite a reduction in Government funding.

“The Government told us that the money could be spent on anything we wanted but we were determined to ensure that it was used for its original purpose to benefit children right across the district.

“I am sure our children will have great fun using them in the years to come and it is money well spent.”

Councillor Vanda Greenwood (Lab, Windhill and Wrose) said: “I am absolutely delighted about this decision, it will now mean that both schemes in Windhill and Wrose will go ahead as planned.

“Many hours of work have been put into both bids and it would have been a travesty if the funding had been lost.”