Hike in cost of playground kit limits upgrades

A huge rise in the cost of playground equipment has limited the ability to improve outdoor areas for children in part of West Yorkshire, a meeting has heard.

Kirklees Council outlined plans to upgrade kit at many of its 314 play areas in a strategy launched in 2020.

Since then, the cost of some equipment has doubled. Councillors were given the example of the average cost of a goal end with a basketball hoop, which was £3,710 in 2020 - but has since risen to £8,070.

Will Acornley, head of operational services, said: "As we started out on this journey, we could afford a lot more...than we can now, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we shouldn't still be doing what we set out to do."

The council has already invested £3.9m into play areas and a further £5.6m is allocated to sites, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Funding is from the capital budget, as well as contributions from housing schemes and external grants.

However, Acornley said an average community play area featuring some metal equipment, a two-bay swing unit, roundabout, seesaw, metal bin, recycled plastic bench and surfacing had cost £41,307 in 2020 - but by 2025, the same thing cost £58,128.

The number of staff working on the strategy had also reduced since 2020, he said.

Labour councillor Matthew McLoughlin said he believed the roll-out of the upgrades had been too slow.

Meanwhile, Green Party councillor Andrew Cooper, suggested the council should monitor how many people used certain playgrounds to help establish whether the project would deliver value.

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