John Cole, a Liberal Democrat councillor and the first local playchampion in England, lobbied fellow politicians to secure the long-termfunding of 50,000 per year. He said play staff were "over themoon" after Bradford City Council agreed to the sum at a meeting to setthe authority's budget last week.
Cole campaigned for the cash after he discovered that the successful andpopular play schemes relied on uncertain and short-term funding. He wasalso concerned that a significant amount of staff time was being takenup preparing funding bids rather than developing play provision.
"They had survived on funny money for about five years," he said. "Thisfunding means they are not going to have to fight those battles nextyear or the year after."
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