Responses to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request submitted to all local authorities shows 48 (31 per cent) had closed playgrounds between April 2010 and October 2013, accounting for 145 unstaffed and 23 staffed facilities.
The cuts have resulted in widespread job losses among play professionals, with 62 per cent of councils reporting they now employ fewer full-time staff than in 2010, and 22 per cent saying they no longer have any play staff.
The FoI data also reveals that local authority spending on play has fallen from £67.9m in 2010/11 to £41.5m in 2013/14, a drop of £26.4m. Broken down by spending type, it shows:
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