§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what actions she has taken to protect sports fields and play facilities in the Crosby constituency. [116285]
§ Mr. CabornWe have put in place a number of strong legislative measures and checks to the planning system to ensure that playing fields can be protected throughout England, including the Crosby constituency. New planning guidance on open spaces, sport and recreation has also been published which provides robust guidelines for local planning authorities about the need to protect playing fields and open spaces and strongly emphasises122W the need for local authorities to undertake rigorous needs assessments for local playing fields and sports facilities, when considering development on these sites or the creation of new facilities.
This Department recognises the crucial importance of play and in partnership with Sure Start is conducting a review of children"s play, which will report in the summer. The review will identify how funding for children"s play can be spent most effectively. Although no action has been taken specifically to protect play facilities in the Crosby constituency, the review has identified the need to improve existing play opportunities and develop new ones.