CHILDREN could see their hopes of new play parks dashed, as part of the Government spending cuts.

Nigel Ayre, City of York Council’s executive member for leisure and culture, said yesterday that the Playbuilder scheme could fall victim to the coalition Government’s belt-tightening.

All projects, which have not been started, could be shelved. In York, that includes parks in the Hull Road area, Chapelfields, Garnet Terrace off Leeman Road, Bell Farm, Heworth Without, the city centre, Strensall, Woodthorpe and Derwent. Work is progressing on the Copmanthorpe and Haxby projects, and it is not yet known whether they too will be affected.

Coun Ayre said he hoped the schemes could all be saved and would write to Lib Dem minister Sarah Teather.

He said: “I am committed to the Playbuilder programme, I think the new play areas that have already been constructed have made a big difference for local young people and I would like to see as many of the remaining schemes as possible completed.”