A COMMUNITY leader is celebrating after cuts in funding for a York park were reversed.

Cash-strapped City of York Council originally intended to reduce funding for the Hull Road park by £38,000 as it battled to deal with reductions in central Government funding.

Leading local residents, including the chairman of Tang Hall Residents’ Association, Simon Moss, and priest Father Tim Jones, campaigned against the cut, which was set to lead to reduced security and the removal of flower beds.

Now the new Labour administration has scrapped the cut in a budget amendment proposed by council leader James Alexander.

Mr Moss hailed the decision as “brilliant news for the residents of Tang Hall”.

He said: “Hull Road Park has been central to our community for many years and used by people of all ages.

“Nightly closures and maintaining flower beds and the park environment will ensure that it continues to be one of the area’s greatest assets.”

Hull Road councillor Neil Barnes said: “In an area where there are many low-income families, a free facility like this is absolutely vital to the community.”

The decision was part of an emergency budget to reverse almost £1 million of cuts to “essential” services which was approved by full council on Thursday.

The Labour group said it was restoring funding for short breaks for disabled children, day care transport, youth services and the city’s Holocaust Memorial Day, as well as providing extra money for flood defences.

It said it would pay for its commitments through measures including reducing use of agency staff, increasing recycling rates and using a £200,000 underspend in the authority’s 2010/11 budget.

The Conservatives tabled an amendment to Labour’s plans, calling for the council’s budget for trade union convenors to be cut and for a new cabinet portfolio for crime and community safety, which gives its holder an allowance of £14,700 a year, to be scrapped.

The party said this would restore funding to provide 15 hours a week of free childcare for 20 disadvantaged two-year-olds in the city, but their proposals were defeated.

“The simple question is whether you support provision for care for two-year-old children, or provision for Labour councillors and unions,” said Conservative leader Ian Gillies.