Providing places for children to play and exercise within housing estates has historically been an integral part of community life and child development.

Members of South Ayrshire Council's Economic and Tourism Development Committee have been examining the cost of maintaining, upgrading and the impact acts of vandalism have on these areas.

Convener of the Committee, Councillor Margaret Toner said: "Some hard decisions have been made about the future of play areas within communities in South Ayrshire.

"The Council currently owns and maintains 102 equipped play areas which are funded from the Council's capital programme.

"The average life of play equipment and safety surfacing is approximately 10 years and a 10 year Asset Lifecycle Management Programme has been developed which is updated annually. The programme sets out the estimated refurbishment year and the cost of replacing the original facilities. The principal criteria used to prioritise refurbishment works are based on Health and Safety legislation, European Standards, internal and external inspections and risk assessments, that is play areas in the worst and most dangerous conditions are given priority.

"Play equipment is expensive, and if damaged or destroyed by acts of vandalism it often has to be removed and there is no funding available to replace it."

At the present annual level of capital funding allocation, £60,000, it would take over 100 years to refurbish all of the Council's play areas. Many play areas have had equipment removed for Health and Safety reasons, if a child injured themselves the Council would be open to a public liability claim.

Over the past four years the Council's Housing service has contributed to refurbishment costs, however there will be no contribution from them this financial year, and it is unlikely that any will be made in the future under the present financial climate.

Developers often contribute to play area refurbishment through the planning process, but the funding must be spent in the area where development has taken place. The contribution level is often very low, however play provision will continue to be installed in new housing developments as part of the planning process, and the play areas will not be the responsibility of the Council.

The Council has accessed alternative funding to provide play equipment in Council play areas through the Community Enhancement budget, the Youth Action Fund, and the Rural Communities Committee. External funding has also been secured for play area refurbishment or for the installation of new equipment through working in partnership with community groups.

Members of the Committee decided that the matter of playground facilities required further examination as the existing level of provision, and the number of equipped play areas, cannot be sustained unless substantial annual capital and revenue commitment can be made. Play area provision will be reviewed and rationalised in line with the present levels of capital and revenue budget.

Officers will prepare a list of play areas within 400 yards of each other and those which are continually damaged which will highlight their expected lifespan and those which have been proposed for phasing out. A legal report outlining the extent of the Council's legal responsibility for maintenance will also be prepared

The reports will be submitted to a future Committee for consideration.