The Secretary of State for Defra, Hilary Benn, joined Labour colleagues in Swindon on Thursday to demand better play facilities in the town.

Swindon Borough Council Labour Group and MPs, Anne Snelgrove and Michael Wills, say families and young people have been let-down by the council after they failed to get a pot of Government money to build and revamp the town's play areas. The decision not to give Swindon Council funding was made in consultation with Play England and the GOSW, who did not have enough confidence in Swindon Council to make the grant. The decision on which councils received funding was largely based on their track record on delivering this type of project.  

Hilary Benn joined them at Edinburgh Street play area where the team demaned that council bosses shape up before April 2009 when then can apply for pathfinder status as part of the next round of funding.

The minister visited the town to help Labour colleagues out campaigning in the run up to the local elections on 1st May.

Swindon Borough Council Labour group is committed to investment in play areas, as part of their manifesto pledge they propose that every household in the town should be within 800 metres of a child's play park.
They have also pledged to protect urban Swindon's green spaces.  

Labour group leader Cllr Kevin Small said:

"It is incredibly disappointing that Government Office South West and Play England did not have enough confidence in Swindon Council to give them this money. We need exciting and stimulating places for children to play which are close to where they live and easy for them to get to. If the Conservative Councillors who run Swindon Council aren't able to inspire confidence in the national funding bodies, Labour are ready to take their place.

"We are determined to keep the pressure on so that Swindon does not miss out in the second round of funding."

Labour 's MP for Swindon South Anne Snelgrove said:

"I want our area to get this funding as quickly as possible so we can start to develop and rebuild children's play areas across our community – benefiting thousands of children and families in our area.