CYP Now - Opinion: Debate - Should councils have to offer children's play facilities?

The lack of places for children to play has prompted some campaigners to call for local authorities to be given a statutory duty to provide facilities, but there is a worry that this would encourage some councils to do the bare minimum.

YES - Adrian Voce, director, London Play

Children are finding it harder to play outside, with catastrophic consequences.

The DfES has said that the Children Bill "makes it clear that play ... outcomes sit equally alongside the others (for) children's ... services".

This is a breakthrough but, resulting from a Lords amendment, seems more of a concession than a commitment. We need a stronger lead from government, a national play strategy and a requirement for extended schools and children's centres to offer open access play for local children.

YES - Di McNeish, director of policy and research, Barnardo's

But the following issues would need to be taken into account. Firstly, local authorities have limited funds and a lot of responsibilities. A duty would need to be accompanied by ring-fenced government resourcing. Secondly, our report on children's views on traffic found that in many areas children may not be able to get to facilities because of unsafe drivers. Thirdly, children and young people don't want to be corralled into "safe play areas" - they want to be able to use their communities.

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