Lack of play policy is devastating the sector

The cumulative effect of the comprehensive spending review and the local government finance settlement, as well as in-year cuts to the previous administration's national play strategy have left professionals fearing that public play provision will be severely weakened if not completely eradicated in some areas.

According to both Play England and London Play, members are concerned about whether sector expertise and vital services will be lost when cuts bite beyond March 2011.

Director of Play England Adrian Voce said: "If local authorities are cutting back on children's play, which they are doing, there is all the more need for there to be some kind of dedicated policy from central government that can provide the levers and support for local people to respond to the cuts.

"The end of a multi-million pound play programme does not need to signify the end of the government play policy," he added. "The vision of children having better access to public spaces, more independent mobility and safer neighbourhoods doesn't need huge capital investment. Play is not a statutory duty and without there being a national champion it is going to be very hard to see how play will not drop off the agenda."

In announcing the government's Childhood and Families Taskforce in June, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it would examine how local communities could be helped to deliver play provision. But a Cabinet Office spokesman said there was no date set for a further announcement on the issue.

Ute Navidi, director of London Play, said she is not surprised the government has failed to act on this intention. "That speech was not worth the paper it was written on," she said. "If play is to continue and communities and smaller voluntary organisations are expected to carry it on, support has to be there from organisations like London Play and Play England. If we work together we can rescue something out of this mess."