THE Regent Playground Challenge has been awarded £4,000 amidst suggestions that those groups who shout the loudest got the most.

The finance and general purposes committee of Skipton Town Council eventually agreed the group could have the money even though it would leave it with a budget of only £4,500 for anything else.

Whilst discussing the proposals for improved play facilities on the recreation ground off Pasture Close, Skipton, it was revealed that there were other recreation grounds which were far from up to scratch.

Recently two companies had been asked by the council to give estimates to replace swings in the recreation ground in Raikes Road and Bold Venture playground. They both refused to give an estimate because they said the surfaces underneath the swings were not safe and the chains and frames were too old.

In one instance it was reported that if four children had been on one swing at the same time it would have fallen down. In their opinion the swings should be taken down.

In making a decision on the funds for Pasture Close, Coun John Spencer questioned the need to spend so much in one area.

"Are we spending too large an amount of our allocation on one ground? Is it the case that those who shout the most get the most?

"Four thousand pounds to one ground is too much. There are others that need our attention," he declared.

Coun Marcia Turner said there were no facilities for children in the Raikes Road ground. "We do pay rates up there as well as anyone else and therefore we should be entitled to some facilities."

It was also put forward that The Gully recreation ground off Shortbank Road was in the process of forming a committee and that there should be something left for them. That would be in addition to the money already spent on clearing the area.

At a recent safety and amenities committee, the £4,000 funding had been approved in the presence of the ladies which founded the Regent Playground Challenge.

Chairman of the meeting Coun Dennis Hall said: "They are doing excellent work and great things in fundraising. I would hope it would be a precedent to other groups."

His sentiments were echoed by Coun Paul Whitaker who said that the ladies had got their committee up and running and had come forward with plans for the ground and fundraising ideas.

Coun Andrew Rankine said he would be curious to know which other groups would be making demands on the budget before a decision was made on Pasture Close.

"We should spend it but not to the detriment of other groups," he added.

Acting clerk Pat Daley said the budget for this year had been £20,000 and had been allocated as follows: Shortbank Road £5,000 of which they had £3,500 left; Broughton Road £4,000; grass cutting £4,000; and now £4,000 for Pasture Close.

That left only £4,500 for any urgent repairs or replacements which could crop up during the year.

Some of the councillors felt they did not have enough information on the needs of other parks so that they could make a decision regarding the £4,000 for Pasture Close.

Following the inspections of Raikes Road and Bold Venture recreation grounds, the swings were condemned and taken down.

It was also suggested that an inspection be made of all the playgrounds to ensure the play equipment was safe.

The Regent Playground Challenge was narrowly awarded the money by six votes to five.

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