News today that the Coalition Government have given way on Playbuilder funding has being welcomed By Scunthorpe MP Nic Dakin, he said, "Play builder was the Labour Government funded program for the regeneration of play parks. It was scrapped under the new government. I am absolutely delighted that North Lincolnshire Council has now secured the funding of �593,382 as this will ensure a safe playing area for young children" This Playbuilder programme was a major part of the Labour government's national Play Strategy, launched in April 2008. In August this year it was announced hundreds of community playground schemes in England were to be axed or scaled back because of government cuts. Education Secretary Michael Gove had frozen grants to 132 councils for building and running up to 1,300 schemes, many designed by youngsters. Only schemes where construction has already started were to be allowed. The government said it had inherited unrealistic spending commitments. Playbuilder has been a big success in giving children places to meet and play. The fitness element of playgrounds is of great importance to children of all ages especially in these days of sedentary pursuits such as TV and computer games. It is very important for children to have social areas to learn to interact with each other and Playbuilder has played a big part in this. Parks help bring communities together, help children build relationships, which in a world of so much crime & violence can only be a good thing. One of the first parks to be regenerated with the new funding will be Everest Road Park in Ashby. Everest Road Park Numerous Playbuilder projects had already been completed in Scunthorpe prior to the axing of the Playbuilder Scheme in August and there had been plans for a further 12 in North Liconlshire, two of the schemes would have benefited residents in the Ashby area � Somervell Road was due a �196,000 facelift, while Everest Road was expected to receive �60,000. In 2008 a new multi-games unit with floodlights was installed on the field off Everest Road which is well used by local children. Everest Road Park multi-games area Hopefully this decision by the government will allow more parks to be rejuvenated.